DALTON, Ohio — A Buddhist monk on a mission to walk across the United States had a friendly encounter with deputies at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Sutham Nateetong began his nearly 3,000-mile journey across the country on March 1 in Santa Monica, California, deputies said. By June he found himself in Northeast Ohio.

The monk's mission is to promote peace during his cross-country walk.

On Friday, deputies ran into Nateetong near Dalton. The monk stopped and posed for a picture with two deputies before continuing his trek across the U.S.