Attack leaves Charging Bull statue with a hole in its horn

Police say a Texas man bashed New York's Charging Bull statue with a metal object and damaged one of its horns.

The Charging Bull Statue surrounded by tourists in the Financial District, near the New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan. [Photo: IC]

Tevon Varlack, of Dallas, was arrested Saturday on charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly attacking the bronze beast.

Police says the 42-year-old Varlack hit the bull with a metal object that looked like a banjo. The attack left the statue with a hole in its right horn.

It's not clear whether Varlack has an attorney to speak for him.

The 7,100-pound (3,200-kilogram) bull was created by Italian-born artist Arturo Di Modica in 1989 and installed in lower Manhattan as a work of guerrilla art.

Di Modica says the sculpture was his gift to America. It quickly became a popular attraction.