WAKAYAMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- A German belonging to the antiwhaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was arrested Monday in the whaling town of Taiji in western Japan on suspicion of damaging a whaler statue in a local park, police said.

Nils Greskewitz, 25, allegedly hung on to the statue of a whaler holding a harpoon in Kujirahama park in Wakayama Prefecture, bending the tip of the harpoon, according to local police.

Local residents witnessed Greskewitz climbing the statue Monday evening. Police found Greskewitz and about four other people believed to be Sea Shepherd members near the statue.

Greskewitz, who has been staying in Japan since Friday, told police he had no intention of damaging the statue, police said.

Several members of the antiwhaling group typically stay in the town to monitor whaling activities during the whaling season between September and April, according to local police.