The artful dodger is back behind bars.
On Friday, East Ridge police arrested Bryan Gary Duke, an inmate who escaped from the Catoosa County administrative building while on a work detail to paint pictures for the local government. According to an incident report, Duke's capture began with a shoddy parking job.
Inmate Bryan Gary Duke went missing May 8 while on a work detail to paint murals at the county's administrative office.An officer found a Hyundai Sonata illegally sitting in a handicapped spot outside a Motel 6. When the officer knocked on the door to room 142, according to the report, Duke tried to run away. He didn't get far, though. An officer caught him and found the keys to the car in his pocket.
Turned out, according to East Ridge police, someone reported the car stolen out of Delray Beach, Fla. The officer then figured out that Duke was wanted in Catoosa County.
On April 24, court records show, Duke pleaded guilty to theft by receiving. But while he was supposed to go to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison, County Manager Jim Walker said the local government worked out an agreement to let him stay at the county jail. In exchange, he would do free paintings on government buildings.
Walker said he got wind of Duke's talent after the inmate painted a mural at the sheriff's office. Duke then painted an American flag, a bald eagle, a Georgia flag and a peach in the board room of the county administrative building. Then, he painted scrolls with the preambles to the U.S. and Georgia constitutions in the commissioners' meeting room, as well as the county crest.
"This guy's a world-class talent," Walker said. "And all I have to do is get materials to beautify the county? It was a no-brainer for me."
A painting of the Catoosa County crest, created by Bryan Gary Duke.He envisioned sending Duke throughout the county, sprucing up the walls of different buildings. He wanted to see murals at the library, the learning center and the fire stations. He and the building maintenance worker agreed to take turns driving Duke back to the jail by 5 p.m. every day.
Throughout the day, Walker said, county employees kept an eye on Duke - almost always. But on May 8, Walker was across town at a meeting. He said that Duke told the maintenance worker that Walker had agreed to drive him to jail that day, which was not true.
When Walker got back to the office, Duke was gone. An hour later, he said, Sheriff Gary Sisk called to tell him that Duke had not reported back to the jail. Walker said that a county worker later found Duke's jail uniform balled up in a closet in the commissioners' meeting room, where he had been working.
Walker is not sure how he coordinated his escape. But he believes Duke will go to the state prison now.
"Great painter," Walker said. "Not a rocket scientist."
Contact Staff Writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @LetsJett.
A painting of an American flag and bald eagle, created by Bryan Gary Duke.
A painting of a scroll with the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, created by Bryan Gary Duke.