Man Strikes Charging Bull Statue With Banjo, Causing Gash: NYPD

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — A man was arrested for bashing the iconic Charging Bull statue with a banjo Saturday afternoon, police said.

Tevon Varlack, 42, of Dallas, Texas was arrested after witnesses said he was striking the Financial District statue with a metal banjo — causing a gash in its head, police said.

Officers were called to Morris and Broadway about property damage Saturday about 12:30 p.m. and arrested him. He was charged with criminal mischief, criminal possession of a weapon and disorderly conduct, an NYPD spokesperson said.

Witnesses told the New York Times the statue was hit in the head several times causing loud, echoing sounds.

"While he was hitting the bull, they were trying to take pictures," Luis Cruz told the Times Sunday. "I said, 'What are you doing? What if this guy turns on you, hits you over the head, kills you?' They didn't pay no mind."

Video obtained by the New York Daily News shows Varlack playing gospel music from a loud speaker after he had already struck the statue's head. The man had reportedly been singing gospel songs and preaching about God during his overnight stay behind bars, per the Post, and cursed President Donald Trump while bashing the bull, a witness told the Times.

A judge in Manhattan told Varlack to "stay away from landmarks in this city" during his arraignment Sunday, the New York Post reported.