Suspicious behavior led police to charge a Salisbury man with skipping out on the check Wednesday at a local barbecue restaurant. The man took police on a short foot chase after he ran from the restaurant without paying for a meal.

Salisbury Police charged Gregory Carlton Pettiford, 23, of the 500 block of Kepley Road, with misdemeanor defrauding an innkeeper or campground owner and misdemeanor resist, delay, obstruct an officer.

An officer eating inside Hendrix Barbecue, 1624 W. Innes St., noticed suspicious behavior of two men who’d placed an order at the restaurant and then abruptly walked outside. The incident occurred just before 7:30 p.m.

The officer, who was in uniform, contacted other officers to meet her at the restaurant. The men took off, but the first officer was able to give a description of the men. One man was spotted near Ackert Avenue. An officer chased him on foot to Walker Street and Brenner Avenue. Pettiford was found a short time later behind an outbuilding of a residence near Walker and Hedrick streets.

Police asked Pettiford who and where was the other person. Pettiford said he only knew the other guy as “OP and Q” said Police Capt. Shelia Lingle.

The officer asked if he had money to pay for the meal they’d ordered. Pettiford said he did not, but could call his mother or girlfriend. He then told the officer he thought OP and Q would pay for the meal.

Pettiford remains in the Rowan County Detention Center under a $1,500 secured bond.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.