Police: Neighbor takes out noise frustration on fresh stripe job

GIG HARBOR, Wash. -- A neighbor took out his frustrations about a noisy project at an adjacent business by stomping in a fresh paint job on its parking lot, prosecutors said.

Court documents state Gig Harbor police were called to a Windermere Realty office Monday by a man who was paint striping the parking lot. He said as he was working, a man approached and stood in front of the machine.

When the painter stopped the machine to ask what he wanted, the man began kicking his feet across the freshly-painted lines, spreading paint everywhere.

The painter told the man "you just bought a new paint job" and began to dial 911 from his cell phone but the man slapped the phone away and then went for a second round of kicking paint around, prosecutors said.

The man then walked back to his home next door.

Shortly after the painter called police, the alleged paint-kicker called 911 to report the painting crew was making too much noise, prosecutors said, but he added he was very argumentative with dispatchers.

An officer arrived at the home and was told by the man that he hasn't been able to sleep due to noise, and he did indeed kick the paint but denied swatting the phone away. He also agreed to pay for damages, estimated at about $2,500.

While the officer went to do paperwork, the man jumped in his car and tried to drive away, but was pulled over by the officer and arrested for investigation of malicious mischief and assault, investigators said.

Court documents state the man has had a long-standing feud with the property owner and the city of Gig Harbor over noise complaints.