Man arrested for allegedly vandalizing Toronto art piece with anti-Semitic graffiti
A man was arrested for a suspected hate crime after allegedly desecrating an art sculpture with anti-Semitic graffiti near the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).
On July 13, authorities were called to McCaul Street and Dundas Street West, near the AGO, after witnesses reported a sculpture had been vandalized.
It’s alleged that around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a man used white spray paint to deface the “Couch Monster” sculpture, designed by renowned Canadian artist Brian Jungen, whose heritage is Dane-zaa — a First Nations group in Canada.
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Anti-Semitic graffiti was found at the front of the sculpture, police said.
On Friday, police arrested 53-year-old Paul Cote of Toronto.
He’s been charged with mischief and damage of property under $5,000. He appeared in court the same day.
When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation is led by a divisional investigator.
