Donald Trump's Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame Destroyed By Vandal
LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Los Angeles police on Wednesday were investigating the vandalism of Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As Kara Finnstrom of KCBS-TV, CBS2 Los Angeles reported, the incident was all caught on video.
Investigators were called to the scene before dawn Wednesday following reports that the Republican presidential candidate's star was destroyed with blows from a hammer by a man dressed as a construction worker, LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar said.
A man, who identified himself as Jamie Otis, told Deadline Hollywood he's responsible for the damage. Otis said that he originally intended to remove Trump's star and auction it off to raise funds for the 11 women accusing the presidential candidate of sexual assault. Trump has denied the allegations and said he will sue the women after the election.
Street performer Gregory Howie said the man who destroyed the star told him he did not set out to demolish the plaque, but just to remove and sell it.
"He was saying he was doing it for the woman that had sexually been abused by Donald Trump, and he was saying the money he makes off the plaque, he was going to donate it," Howie said.
Otis spoke with TMZ about what will happen next.
"I have an attorney, and I'm sure I will turn myself in shortly," Otis said. "However, until then, I'd like to reach out to as many people as I can to help put a spotlight on sexual violence in this country."
On Wednesday, police immediately began investigating the vandalism. They said the star is worth about $2,500, making its destruction a felony.
Police said in addition to the Deadline Hollywood video showing the destruction in progress, they have found quite a bit of other evidence, including a vest, hat, pickaxe and sledgehammer.
This is not the first time Trump's star has been targeted this year. In July, protesters built a miniature "border" wall with razor wire around it. Someone also spray-painted a swastika onto the star, and one man recorded himself urinating on it, CBS LA reported.
A man who keeps the walk clean said he has to pay extra attention to the Trump star, cleaning it three times a day.
The Trump campaign called the vandalism part of a pattern, and said there is a subtle form of intimidation going on to potentially suppress the vote.
Repairs were under way late Wednesday and were expected to take about a week, after which point the star will be unveiled again.
Trump's star was dedicated in 2007 in recognition of his work on "The Apprentice.''
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