Two people who were driving the trucks transporting the bust were apprehended by police and taken to police headquarters, authorities said.
Their names were not given in the statement.The police did not identify the bust, but local media identified it as one depicting John McDonogh.
When he died, McDonogh left a large portion of his money to New Orleans and Baltimore for schools, and many schools in New Orleans are named after him.
Video on social media showed dozens surrounding the bust, which sat on a pedestal while some people pulled on a rope tied to the bust and another hit it.