Indianapolis Man Arrested for Allegedly Defacing Confederate Statue

Police have arrested a man who they say damaged a Confederate monument at an Indianapolis park with a hammer.

Marion County Jail records show 30-year-old Anthony Ventura was being held Sunday on a charge of criminal mischief.

Police arrested him Saturday afternoon in Garfield Park on the city's south side, where a 35-foot (11-meter) tall granite tower has plaques listing the names of 1,616 Confederate prisoners who died while held at the city's Camp Morton.

Police say the hammer blows chipped pieces off of the monument.

The vandalism came days after city officials began discussing whether the monument should be moved. Cities nationwide are removing Confederacy-related monuments following a deadly white-nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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