Ryan Patrick Hooper

Special to the Detroit Free Press

After mistaking a city contractor for a vandal last week, the Detroit Police Department has decided not to pursue charges against artist Sheefy McFly.

“After further review and investigation of the totality of the circumstances, we decided to not move forward with the submission of the warrant,” said DPD spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Kirkwood in a statement to the Free Press on Thursday.

As part of a sweeping beautification project known as City Walls, 29-year-old McFly on June 19 was using spray paint and acrylic paint to create a city-commissioned mural at a viaduct just east of 7 Mile and John R when two Detroit police officers approached him and asked for a permit.

But because his city-issued permit was not in hand, police believed he was tagging the viaduct with illegal graffiti. McFly, whose real name is Tashif Turner, had been working at the site for several days.

More:Sheefy McFly arrested by Detroit police — while working on mural for the city

The disagreement led to McFly being arrested for resisting and obstructing police as well as on an outstanding traffic warrant. McFly was detained for about 24 hours at the Detroit Detention Facility before being released.

While he won't face the resisting and obstructing charge, McFly still has a court date on July 3 for the traffic warrant.

The high-profile and controversial arrest kicked off a parade of local and national media coverage as the City of Detroit prepared to host the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club this weekend — just more than a mile from where McFly was arrested.

“The whole thing is surreal,” said McFly, who said he felt relieved after hearing his charge of resisting and obstructing would not be pursued.

McFly, who is also a musician, said a felony charge could have greatly hindered his career. But his name recognition continues to climb following the arrest.

“I want to go worldwide,” said McFly. “A felony charge would’ve kept me back at home, so I’m thankful for that.”

The mural is the first of 10 McFly was commissioned to paint as part of a blight abatement artist residency program known as City Walls.

City Walls was expanded last year with an increased budget of $200,000 aimed at commissioning about 60 murals by 25 artists across the city where illegal graffiti is seen as a nuisance.

Those funds are used to pay artists for their work, their supplies and to contract Detroit-based art publishing house 1xRun to facilitate the program. McFly was hired through 1xRun to work with the city.

1xRun CEO Jesse Cory said about nine artists are currently working on murals for City Walls, including McFly, Zak Warmann, Lindy Shewbridge, Jake Dwyer, Phillip Simpson and Ndubisi Okoye.

“We are very happy to hear that this issue could be resolved quickly and appropriately,” said Cory. “We are excited to get back to focusing on our initiatives to help beautify the city of Detroit.”

Brad Dick is the group executive of infrastructure for the City of Detroit and oversees the City Walls program.

Following the arrest, Dick explained that the program will increase signage at project sites and mandate that all artists wear identifying lanyards with permit info while working on their respective murals.

He said they’ll also increase education and awareness of the City Walls program to all Detroit police precincts instead of only notifying the precincts near where projects are happening.

McFly has become a sought-after artist in recent years for his vivid pop art style. He’s also an accomplished musician, recently performing at this year’s Movement Music Festival.

McFly said he’ll feel safer painting this weekend when he goes back to the viaduct to finish the mural.

“It’s overwhelming but I feel a lot more love,” said McFly. “So I’m going to put a lot more love on the walls.”