A Parks Department worker, Fariz Ahmemulic, pleaded not guilty Thursday to hate crime charges and hanging a doll by a noose in the department's Bronx headquarters.

Ahmemulic, 28, was arrested Wednesday after two fellow employees said he had hung the dolls. He was charged with multiple counts, including aggravated harassment as a hate crime, according to NY1.

Released without bail, Ahmemulic told police he actually took the doll down and gave it to a supervisor.

Parks Department officials say they regret that the suspect is a Parks employee and have suspended him without pay.