HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Union Pacific police are investigating the people who painted the latest version of the iconic ‘Be Someone’ sign, a search warrant revealed.
The sign, which occupies a Union Pacific railroad bridge over the North Freeway near downtown, was first painted with ‘Be Someone’ years ago.
Although the original artist has never revealed his identity, his message has been painted over multiple times, including by a cryptocurrency promoter earlier this year.
In June, an Instagram user posted a video of someone dangling over the bridge with a paint roller and repainting ‘Be Someone’ over the cryptocurrency ad. Two other accounts also took credit for the sign, according to the search warrant, and one of the account owners did an interview with the Houston Chronicle.
The warrant seeks to unmask the identities of the account owners to possibly face graffiti charges.
None of the people Eyewitness News spoke with said they agreed with removing the sign or charging the painters.
“They have to do what they have to do, but if I got to vote, I would vote to keep it,” Houston resident Lisa Olsen said.
“The intent is positive and I feel like more people enjoy seeing that than don’t enjoy seeing it,” said Michael Miller, who’s visiting Houston from Round Rock.
“When I first came to Houston, I saw that sign and it was part of the reason that I came here,” said Ronald Derouen, who moved to Houston from Louisiana.
In a statement, Union Pacific said:
“People who trespass onto bridges to ‘tag’ private property are not only committing a crime, they are putting their life and the lives of innocent motorists and others traveling below at risk. We urge everyone for their safety and the safety of our employees and the public to stay off railroad property.”
In the warrant, Houston police note that Union Pacific was told the cost to repaint the bridge would be nearly $10,000.
“It’s positive, so to me, Union Pacific, they should be OK. The majority of people want it there,” Derouen said.
Although HPD applied for the search warrant, the department told Eyewitness News, “We don’t investigate graffiti.”
Late last year, a graffiti charge was dropped against artist Chandrika Metivier after she completed a pre-trial diversion program for painting messages like ‘no war know peace’ and ‘vote or die’ on the same bridge.
“I can understand why someone might want to silence a voice like mine,” Metivier told Eyewitness News at the time.
Union Pacific didn’t respond to questions about the status of its investigation on Thursday.
Eyewitness News messaged all three Instagram accounts referenced in the warrant, but none replied.
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