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Richard Vogel/PA

Man who defaced Trump's Hollywood star with a sledgehammer arrested

James Otis was detained before he could give a press conference.

A MAN WHO admitted to defacing Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was arrested this morning.

James Otis had planned to hold a news conference at the site of Trump’s star and then surrender to police, but he was arrested beforehand.

Otis, who had his misdeed filmed on Wednesday, said he initially wanted to remove the star and auction it in New York on Election Day.

Sledgehammer

The proceeds, he said, would go to nearly a dozen women who have accused the 70-year-old Trump of sexual misconduct.

Otis ended up taking a sledgehammer and pickaxe to the star but could not totally remove the slab, as the “stone was like marble,” he told the news agency.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce quickly moved to repair the star, which was awarded to the billionaire businessman in 2007 for his work on his reality television show “The Apprentice”.

Trump Star Vandalized Gregg Donovan, who calls himself the unofficial ambassador of Hollywood, places a Trump sticker on the vandalised star. Richard Vogel Richard Vogel

“When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark,” chamber head Leron Gubler said.

“Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property.”

Gubler said the chamber planned to pursue the case against Otis, who was charged with one felony count of vandalism.

Nearly a dozen women have accused Trump of groping, forcibly kissing or being sexually aggressive toward them in the past.

GOP 2016 Trump Profile Donald Trump, with his wife, Melania , and their son, Barron, after he was given the star on the walk of fame. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

He has denied the allegations and vowed to sue the women after the November 8 election.

Latest polls have shown Trump closing the gap on Hillary Clinton.

Some poll show just a four point gap between the two as the 8 November election draws closer.

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AFP
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