For LEGO Man, a new journey

SIESTA KEY - The LEGO Man is free.

The famous LEGO figurine, known as Ego Leonard, that mysteriously washed ashore on Siesta Key is out of protective custody.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office released Ego Leonard on Thursday, giving him to Denise Kowal, who is the founder of the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

Kowal said she isn’t sure what they’ll do with the Ego Leonard, whose mysterious appearance last year made him a viral sensation.

"I kind of feel like I just won the lottery,” Kowal said. “I was asked to pick him up and care for him and take care of his social calendar, which I think he probably has a pretty big one because there's a lot of people that really like him. He's a popular guy."

The first thing they did when he got out of custody?

Kowal said they had dinner.

“He’s really important to me because he’s friends with a lot of artist friends that I work with,” she said. “During the chalk festival, some of the artists created a piece in his honor.”

The eight-foot tall figurine is believed to have been created by Dutch artist Leon Keer, and there are connections between the artist and the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

Was Ego Leonard’s appearance on the beach that day Kowal’s idea?

She wouldn’t say

But one thing is for sure: He’s hers for now, and she plans to show him off.

That is, of course, until his journey brings him to another place.

“He’s had offers in other states, such as Nevada, so I’m sure he’ll leave us at some point,” Kowal said.