An arrest has been made in an anti-Semitic graffiti investigation at the Art Gallery of Ontario
On July 13 at 6:15 a.m., Toronto Police say a man was seen using white spray paint to deface the “Couch Monster” sculpture outside the AGO’s northeast corner at Dundas St W. and McCaul St. area.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was located at the front of the sculpture, by artist Brian Jungen. The gallery’s first public art commission, the AGO says the large-scale work in bronze is a “figure of an elephant from discarded leather sofas.”
Police were called to investigate about 12 hours later.
Officers consulted with the Hate Crime Unit, and police say the case is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
Images of a suspect were released on July 15, and that day, police say Paul Cote, 53, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with mischief – damage property under $5,000.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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