Memphis mayoral candidate Leo Awgowhat was arrested Friday for vandalizing the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue in Health Sciences Park.
Argowhat blamed the graffiti on one of his multiple personalities.
Argowhat is running as an independent.
Commercial Appeal reported:
Longshot Memphis mayoral candidate Leo Awgowhat was arrested Friday in connection with the vandalism of the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue in Health Sciences Park.
Awgowhat, 43, was charged with desecration of a venerated object and trespass or injury to a cemetery property, said Memphis police spokesman Louis Brownlee.
Overnight Thursday, the words “Aw Go What” were painted on both sides of the statue’s base.
An affidavit said Awgowhat told investigators one of his “multiple personalities” named “Awgo” came up with the idea. He denied “direct participation.” He said he believed one of four people was responsible, the affidavit said.
He was booked into Shelby County Jail Friday afternoon and is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website.
The incident occurred two days after the City Council voted to remove the politically charged monument to the Confederate officer from Health Sciences Park and 10 days after someone painted “Black Lives Matter’’ on the front of the statue’s base.