Salisbury man banned from gym, other businesses returns to YMCA

Published 11:00 am Monday, October 22, 2018

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man who was charged last week with stealing money from a tip jar at a gym was charged over the weekend when he returned to J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, where he had been banned.

Andy Mark Kepley, 60, of the 2000 block of Sherrills Ford Road, was charged Saturday with misdemeanor second-degree trespassing when he went to the YMCA, 828 W. Jake Alexander Blvd.

Kepley told police officers that he was there to rejoin the Y. He was arrested and told an officer he was having chest pains. The officer contacted Rowan EMS, who checked Kepley and determined he was fine, a report said.

Kepley was charged a week ago with misdemeanor larceny, an offense that stemmed from a private warrant taken out by an employee of Forum Fitness Center, 2318 S. Main St. He was accused of taking money from the employees’ tip jar that sat on a counter. He gave a written promise to appear in court in that matter.

The Salisbury Police Department has said Kepley was banned from Food Lion stores at Faith Road and West Jake Alexander Boulevard as well as Dollar Tree and Old Navy stores, also on Faith Road. Police say he has been banned from a number of other businesses in the Innes Street Market shopping center.

He was charged in April with felony obtaining property by false pretenses and possession of stolen goods. According to police, Kepley stole a firearm from a locker at Planet Fitness gym in March and pawned the gun. He was also banned from that business.

He was charged in April with misdemeanor assault on a female and assault on a minor.

Police say Kepley has stood at the entrance of some of the businesses and yelled at and harassed customers.

He remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $1,000 secured bond.