US Police arrest man who defaced Donald Trump's Hollywood star

A man who admitted to defacing Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in protest at the Republican presidential candidate's treatment of women was arrested on Thursday, police said.

James Otis had planned to hold a news conference in the early morning 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.

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

“I just sort of had enough with Trump’s aggressive language toward women and his behavior, his sexual violence with women and against women,” Otis said.

Otis ended up taking a sledgehammer and pickaxe to the star but could not totally remove the slab.

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."

"When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalise 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.

He has denied the allegations and vowed to sue the women after the election, which will be held on 8 November.