EXCLUSIVE

The guy who destroyed Donald Trump's Walk of Fame star got busted by cops Thursday morning.

LAPD tracked down James Otis in West Hollywood as he was leaving a home, and took him into custody. We're told he was cooperative as officers arrested him for felony vandalism.

Otis was planning to hold a news conference in a few hours ... then turn himself in to cops, but LAPD clearly wasn't down for his dog and pony show.

As we reported ... Otis took a pickax to Trump's star early Wednesday. He came on "TMZ Live" a few hours later to confess and explain why he had it out for the GOP candidate.