An American father was arrested in Japan after he allegedly carved his family’s names into a sacred wooden shrine with his fingernails.
Steven Lee Hayes, 65, was detained on Nov. 13 after the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department caught him on camera the day before allegedly defacing the entrance to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, according to police. authorities.
Hayes, who arrived in the county on Nov. 11 with his family, was allegedly “carving letters of the alphabet” into a wooden pillar with his nails at the traditional Japanese torii gate. NBC News reported.
The alleged incident occurred around 11.15 a.m. local time on November 12, when surveillance footage allegedly captured him using his fingernails to mark the pillar.
The times of Japan later reported that Hayes admitted that he “wrote the names of his family members” on the wood.
He was soon arrested at a Tokyo hotel the following afternoon, as authorities believe he committed the alleged crime “as an act of mischief,” according to the outlet.
Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.
It was first opened in 1920, but was later destroyed during the Tokyo air raids during World War II.
Steven Lee Hayes, 65, was arrested on Nov. 13 after the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department caught him on camera allegedly drawing the names of his relatives at the Meiji Shrine.
Meiji Shrine (pictured), located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken.
The shrine was rebuilt in 1958 and is known to be visited by many world leaders and politicians, including former German Foreign Minister Guido Wasterwelle, former US President George W. Bush and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The entrance to the sanctuary features large wooden doors, known as torii, that have curved beams.
If convicted, Hayes faces up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen (US$1,918) for the alleged vandalism.
It is unclear exactly where in the United States Hayes is from and whether he is still in custody.
DailyMail.com contacted the US Embassy in Japan and the US State Department.
Hayes also admitted to the allegations and said he “wrote down the names of his relatives” that day. It’s unclear exactly where in the U.S. Hayes is from and whether he’s still in custody.
Signs have since been posted near the entrance to the shrine that read: “Recently, ruthless acts have occurred that damaged the Torii gate with scratches.”
“It is truly unfortunate that we have to enclose the Torii gates with a fence to protect them,” it said, with the phrase “(Security cameras in use)” at the bottom.
News of Hayes’ arrest comes after a series of similar incidents occurred in Japan.
In September, police said cnn that a 61-year-old Austrian man was arrested for allegedly having sex on the grounds of a shrine in Kesennuma, a town on the northern outskirts of Tokyo.
The outlet reported that earlier this year, views were blocked for local residents in a small town located at the base of Mount Fuji after tourists left behind piles of trash.
The visitors also “ignored traffic rules,” despite signs and security guards stationed in the area.
Last year, a 17-year-old Canadian teenager was questioned for allegedly carving his name on a wooden pillar at a temple in Nara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, police said, according to CNN.
Signs have since been placed near the entrance of the shrine to discourage tourists from damaging the sacred shrine.
UNESCO is a list distributed by the World Heritage Convention, which includes popular places around the world, including many US national parks, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and the Great Wall of China, among others.
In January, another American was arrested at Japan’s Haneda airport after allegedly biting the arm of a flight attendant while intoxicated.
Japanese media outlet TBS News later named him as Michael Travis Halyard, 55, a prominent sex therapist in the United States.
Halyard allegedly forced the flight to return to Tokyo on its route to Seattle, and was arrested immediately after the ANA Airlines plane landed on the runway.
He reportedly told investigators he took sleeping pills and has “no memory at all” of his alleged antics on the flight, leaving the flight attendant slightly injured.
Prosecutors later declined to file charges over the incident.