Alleged soup spitting lands former Animal Society president in jail

Serial soup spitting?

Charles Karesh, the former president of the Charleston Animal Society who quit after being questioned about missing money, was arrested Thursday after a former board member said Karesh kept spitting soup on his car.

Charleston Police charged Karesh, 56, of Windermere Boulevard, with malicious injury to property.

He resigned from the Animal Society in December 2011 after $69,000 was reported missing. Board members said the money was returned, and no charges were brought.

Hilton Smith III, 31, a former board member, said Karesh held a grudge for being implicated “in an embezzlement case” at the shelter, according to a Charleston police incident report.

Smith and Karesh work in separate offices at 215 East Bay St. Smith is an officer with the East Bay Co., which sells commercial real estate. Karesh sells insurance. He also is a member of the Charleston Planning Commission. Smith parks in the garage at 14 Cumberland St. He told police that Karesh spit soup on the trunk of his car at least six times, damaging the paint. The type of soup was not identified.

Smith said the soup attacks started the week of Thanksgiving and continued through Christmas Eve.

Smith hired a private investigator, who videotaped Karesh spitting soup on the car on at least one occasion, according to the police report.

Smith declined to share the video or more details about the allegations. Karesh remained in the county jail late Thursday.