A graffiti artist's apparent foray into social commentary came up a little short.

The word “Black” was all Michael A. Reges was able to spell out in paint on a Butler street last month. The words “Lives Matter” that were to follow never made it, police said, because he ran out of spray paint.

Police Friday charged Reges, 23, of Butler with a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.

Patrolman Michael Sulerud was on patrol shortly before 1 a.m. July 25 when he came upon a man, later identified as Reges, yelling at someone in the area of West Brady and Broad streets.

The officer checked what the commotion was about, and the defendant told him he spray-painted the street. Apparently a neighbor objected to Reges' actions, and called him on it.

That's when Sulerud noticed the word “Black” in all capital letters, about 6 feet long, painted in black on the street.

Asked why he did it, police said, Reges told them that he intended to paint the message “Black Lives Matter,” but he didn't have enough paint.

Similar street messages in support of the “Black Lives Matter” social movement have been popping up around the country, most notably in yellow paint both in downtown Washington, D.C., and on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Police said Reges turned over an aerosol can that he had in his backpack. The can was empty, Sulerud confirmed.

“(Reges) stated that he knew what he was doing could get him legally in trouble,” according to the officer's affidavit, “but (he) did it anyway.”

The city's street department later estimated it would cost $233.30 to clean up the graffiti.

Reges' preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 28.