Police accuse man of spray painting owl on Cook-Out

SALISBURY — Police charged a 22-year-old man with spray painting a white owl behind a Cook-Out on East Innes Street, and they say he’s a suspect in other white owl paintings around the city.

Luke Hamilton, of Grubb Ferry Road, was caught white-handed — paint-covered fingers, that is — after a brief foot chase, police said. He also was missing a shoe.

A second matching shoe was found behind Cook-Out, along with a white spray-paint can and a broken owl stencil.

About 1:30 a.m. Cook-Out patrons notified a security official at the eatery that a man was spray painting the back of the business near the drive-through.

When the security officer attempted to stop him, an arrest record said, Hamilton fled, hitting the man in the process. The shoe was lost during the struggle.

Hamilton then sprinted across East Innes Street, authorities said. He was arrested near North Green Street.

Authorities said white owl spray paintings have recently popped up throughout the city. Hamilton could face charges in the other instances, police said.

Hamilton was released from the Rowan County jail after posting a $1,500 bond.