By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A man who was banned from several local gyms and other businesses is charged with stealing from a gym employees’ tip jar.

Andy Mark Kepley, 60, of the 2000 block of Sherrills Ford Road, was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor larceny. He gave a written promise to appear in court.

According to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from a private warrant taken out by an employee of the Forum gym.

Kepley is accused of taking money from a tip jar that sat on the counter at the fitness center, located at 2318 S. Main St. He was banned from the Forum, but law enforcement officials say he returned twice Wednesday and Thursday morning.

The Salisbury Police Department said Kepley is also banned from the Food Lion stores at Faith Road and West Jake Alexander Boulevard as well as Dollar Tree and Old Navy stores, also on Faith Road. Police say he has been banned from a number of other businesses in the Innes Street Market shopping center.

Kepley was charged in April with felony obtaining property by false pretenses and possession of stolen goods. According to police, Kepley stole a firearm from a locker at Planet Fitness in March and pawned the gun.

He was also charged in April with misdemeanor assault on a female and assault on a minor.

Police say he has stood at the entrances of some of these businesses and yelled at and harassed customers.

Officials urge customers and business patrons who see Kepley at any business to not engage with him.

He has previous convictions for driving while impaired and driving while license revoked in the 1990s and a conviction for driving while license revoked in 2002. All the driving charges are misdemeanor offenses.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.