Police: Man spray-paints on NYC museum wall

NEW YORK (AP) — Police say a vandal has marred the walls of New York City’s Whitney Museum of American Art for a second time in two months as it prepares to move.

Police say Christopher Johnson spray-painted graffiti on a blank wall at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. It happened during a 36-hour marathon public farewell to the Whitney’s current Manhattan building and to a Jeff Koons exhibition.

Johnson was arrested on criminal mischief and other charges. He’s awaiting arraignment. It’s unclear whether he has a lawyer. No telephone number for him can be found.

A museum spokeswoman says no art was damaged. The wall has been repainted.

Another man splashed a red substance on another wall in the Koons exhibit in August. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

The museum moves from its Madison Avenue location to a building downtown next year.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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