Royal Oak Police Catch Graffiti Suspect 'Red-Handed'

Royal Oak police allege Carson Matlock, 19, had red spray paint on his hands and paint markers in his pockets when they questioned and arrested him last month on malicious destruction of property charges. (Photo via Royal Oak Police)

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When Royal Oak police say they caught the suspect in a spate of graffiti taggings around town “red handed,” it wasn’t just a euphemism.

The suspect – Carson Matlock, a 19-year-old homeless man – had red paint on his hands and had red paint markers in his pocket, police said in a news release.

Matlock was arrested at 1:46 a.m. on Jan. 29 after a police officer on routine patrol saw him crouched down near a utility pole at Washington and Lincoln. As he walked away, the officers saw a fresh drawing in red paint and stopped him for questioning.

A check of the area revealed six more graffiti taggings, all in red paint.

Matlock was charged with two counts of malicious destruction of property, causing $200-$1,000 damage, a misdemeanor punishable up to one year in jail and a fine of $100.

He was arraigned Friday in 44th District Court before before Judge Derek Meinecke, whos et bond at $300. Matlock is next due in court at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 20.

Matlock is currently on probation for a similar conviction in Ferndale, police said. Authorities there tagged him for defacing parking meters.

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