Redneck Crime

Since early August, a redneck-loving artist has been hell bent for leather on decorating the great business outdoors in Sugar House Park and other areas of Salt Lake City, Utah. Left in his wake were some mighty interesting renditions of the country music icon Johnny Cash. More than a dozen graffiti drawings of the entertainer—bushy eyebrows, big nose, sneer and all—appeared along with his famous intro, “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash,” and sometimes, “I’m a drifter.”

According to a report in The Salt Lake Tribune, the city’s Community Intelligence Officers (who target serial crimes) soon began pooling their resources to document sightings of the Cash fan. He avoided capture, though, until a surveillance video from a local business provided the local po-lice with a clear look at the guy in action, and a tip led them to his grandma’s house.

Tyler James Olsen, 19, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on September 15 on suspicion of criminal mischief, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he faces up to five years in jail and a fine. The good news is that the arresting officer (obviously another redneck fan) happened to have a Johnny Cash CD and let Olsen listen to it during the ride to the pokey.

Tyler shoulda listened to Johnny’s advice… “Don’t Take Your Guns (okay, Brushes) to Town, Son.” Oh well, I figure the poor guy’s gonna be humming “Folsom Prison Blues,” Doin’ My Time,” or even “I Got Stripes” fer a spell.–Tex