The former owner of a South Carolina church who once made headlines for painting it pink and writing "TRAP" above its entrance has been arrested after allegedly causing thousands of dollars in damage to a truck, according to an arrest warrant. Authorities say Ronald Dean Rallis Jr., 47, was arrested on Sept. 25 by Folly Beach police on a warrant issued out of Greenville County, and was transferred to Greenville County custody on Monday.
Deputies gathered evidence that the developer had reportedly caused damage to a truck belonging to his brother, Justus Rallis, during an incident at their mother's residence on Old Parker Road, FOX Carolina News reported. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office charged Rallis with malicious injury to personal property valued at $2,000 or less. According to deputies, Rallis damaged the hood, windshield and the windshield wiper arm of someone else's car, with the repairs estimated to cost $1,000.
The arrest warrant also notes that Rallis has a prior conviction for economic crimes. Rallis previously attracted media attention in 2022 after he painted the former home of Bibleway Full Gospel Missionary Baptist Church pink, having purchased the building months earlier. The developer had purchased the church and accompanying land for $425,000, The Post and Courier reported in 2022. The real estate developer painted the church pink and wrote the word "TRAP" on the building.
In front of the building, there was a mock police cruiser covered in pink at the entrance, as well as a pink-painted oven on the steps of the former church. Painting the church pink was reportedly meant to bring attention to Republican U.S. Rep. William Timmons, whom Rallis accused of breaking up his marriage. Rallis also told WYFF News 4 in 2022 that he painted the building pink because his Instagram was shut down.