Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Reportedly Gets Extra Security
President-elect Donald Trump’s recently vandalized Hollywood Walk of Fame star is supposedly receiving extra security although the level and scope of the protection is somewhat in question.
As you may recall, a man has been charged with destroying Trump’s star with a sledgehammer and pickax on October 26. The star has now been restored, however, and reportedly will be carefully monitored going forward.
The 52-year-old suspect, James Lambert Otis, pleaded not guilty last Friday to a felony vandalism charge which carries a maximum three-year prison term upon a conviction, the Los Angeles Times reported. The price tag on the damage is estimated to be about $2,500.
As the Inquisitr previously explained, the billionaire real estate mogul who will be sworn in on January 20 as the nation’s 45th commander in chief was honored in January 2007 (see featured image above) for starring on the hit NBC reality show The Apprentice. Executive producer Mark Burnett, Larry King, and former Tonight Show host Jay Leno all spoke at Trump’s Walk of Fame ceremony at the time, according to Deadline Hollywood.
The Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce currently maintain over 2,500 plaques up and down Hollywood Boulevard, which is a prime tourist attraction in Los Angeles.
According to TMZ, security will be tight around the Trump Walk of Fame star from now on.
“Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is back to its glory… and it’s now getting Secret Service-like protection. Law enforcement sources tell us the LAPD will have 2 officers on foot patrol in the area 24/7, in addition to vehicle patrol. We’re told a camera will be trained on Trump’s star, located near a shopping mall… and private security has also been alerted to keep an eye out for vandals. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce — which maintains the Walk — has placed a protective barrier around Trump’s star — it’s unclear when it will be removed.”
Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is back to its glory … and it's now getting Secret Service-like protection. pic.twitter.com/WqhqCkBjy6
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 23, 2016
The Hollywood Reporter, however, questioned the accuracy of the TMZ story.
“A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman dismissed a TMZ report that two officers were being dedicated to protect the star on a 24-hour basis, saying that the LAPD regularly patrols Hollywood Boulevard and the plan remains status quo. ‘We always have patrol in the area,’ he said, adding: ‘There are no officers dedicated to guarding his star. The officers in the area always make sure they are visible.’ A rep for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversee the Walk of Fame, declined to comment on the TMZ report.”
FELONY VANDALISM: Man charged for smashing of Trump Hollywood Walk of Fame star https://t.co/fomOxNIWpe pic.twitter.com/LtpoQl5ENW
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) November 18, 2016
The Laist website also disputed the report about beefed-up patrols around Trump’s plaque. A Hollywood Walk of Fame official told the website in an email that “The police have a regular presence at the Hollywood & Highland location due to heavy tourist traffic. No special requests have been made in regards to security.”
The vandalism suspect claims that Trump’s controversial comments about women prompted him to trash the Walk of Fame tribute. “After smashing the star, Otis removed the center TV emblem, some letters of Trump’s name and a small piece of the star. He kept the brass pieces. Otis said he planned to auction them off and raise money for women who accused Trump of assault as well as a college organization working to end sexual violence on campuses,” the L.A. Times detailed. Otis also said he would pay to have the star repaired. He is due back in court on December 5.
Trump has denied the groping allegations.
Meanwhile, a homeless woman who tried to protect Donald Trump’s star after the vandalism and was bullied for her trouble created headline news. A GoFundMe page has been established for her care.
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/793183906241482752
In a Thanksgiving message to America, President-elect Trump called for unity and healing, a video which has received more than one million hits so far.
[Featured Image by Damian Dovarganes/AP Images]
