Buzz
“There but for the grace of God go I”: These powerful words capture the essence of the vulnerable and the fragile among us.
There is a significant difference between a homeless person and a 'bum.' The former may be down on their luck, seeking assistance, while the latter often loses direction and, in some cases, the ability to tell right from wrong. The following ten stories delve into real-life accounts of vagrants so unbelievable they could only belong to the realm of film.
10. Compassion vs. Justice
It was surprising to find that the $111 million academic building at Cooper Union became a gathering place for a diverse group of homeless individuals, who could be found regularly engaging in drug transactions amidst the young children attending the Preschool of the Arts in 2015.
Along with drug activities, public intoxication, urination, defecation, and even public masturbation became common occurrences. A Cooper Union professor shared, 'These conditions are repugnant, especially when you look out the window in the morning and witness something like a drug deal. Or when you're sitting in class and someone urinates right in front of you.' When reporters approached, nine homeless individuals reacted aggressively, with one threatening, 'I was going to chase him down and beat the sh—t out of him. If I ever see you or that photographer again, I’ll kick the sh—t out of you.'
Many New Yorkers placed the blame on Mayor Bill de Blasio, criticizing his tolerance towards homeless panhandlers. 'Thanks to him, no one bothers me,' said Phil Zasel, 63. 'It’s the best time to be homeless.' However, local residents were outraged by the mayor’s permissive policies. 'This is revolting. There’s no justification for this. I’ve lived in Harlem all my life, and I’m sick of it,' said a local community activist.
9. A Concealed Space
In 2011, Neil Lansing, a 33-year-old homeless man, was incarcerated after appearing before a Florida judge on undisclosed charges. Upon his arrival at the Sarasota County jail, a routine search revealed a strange object hanging from Lansing’s rectum. After further investigation, officers discovered a condom containing 30 unusual items.
To everyone’s astonishment, Lansing managed to cram 17 round blue pills, six matches, a cigarette, a flint, a lip balm container, a spare condom, a paper coupon, a CVS receipt, and an empty syringe—capped with an eraser for safety—into his person. It's doubtful Lansing will ever get his items back after his release. He was subsequently charged with possessing drugs and tobacco products within the jail.
8. Inappropriate Selfies
In 2017, a 73-year-old real estate agent in Florida received an unexpected deluge of explicit photos and sexual messages from 48-year-old homeless man Reginald Bernard Nelson. It's unclear how Nelson obtained a cell phone, but he was charged for sending the explicit content and was also linked to 21 other similar cases being investigated by the Gulfport Police, Clearwater Police, and Treasure Island Police in the state.
In a bizarre conclusion to his countless misguided attempts at romance, Nelson's photography ambitions came to an abrupt halt in a parking lot. He confessed that he had specifically targeted realtors from local ads in hopes of showcasing what he believed to be a collection of irresistible and self-expressive photos. Instead, the resourceful Casanova was arrested and charged with felony cyber stalking following an extensive investigation.
7. When Nature Calls
In 2015, a man named Paul Kellogg gained infamy in Manhattan's upscale Upper East Side. In addition to waking an entire block with his early morning screams of 'F—k you, richie! F—k you, richie!', Kellogg made a habit of using the façades of multimillion-dollar homes and buildings as his personal restroom. His public acts of relieving himself drew the attention of former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who filed multiple complaints with the police. He remarked, 'I myself, two weeks ago, had to go to a precinct to complain about a homeless person who was defecating and urinating. Do you know when people lived on the streets and didn’t use bathrooms inside? It’s called the Dark Ages.'
Giuliani's complaints were largely ignored, leading to a bitter feud between the ex-mayor and the police department. Giuliani advised them to 'be more aggressive with quality-of-life offenses.' Current mayor Bill de Blasio also came under fire for his handling of the homelessness crisis in New York. When asked about de Blasio’s decision to create a task force to address quality-of-life issues in Times Square, Giuliani responded, 'I didn’t need a task force. It was me and Bratton. My brain. His people.'
6. Man vs. Baby
In 2011, a couple in Sydney, Australia, were enjoying a peaceful day at an outdoor café with their 16-month-old daughter when an unthinkable act of violence took place. Around 11:30 AM, a 28-year-old homeless man casually approached the child’s stroller and did what most disturbed individuals with a rough background would do: He struck the baby in the face.
The brutal punch caused a facial injury, and the cowardly assailant fled the scene. The child’s father gave chase, and several bystanders quickly alerted officers from the Sydney City Local Area Command, who located the irate vagrant hiding in a nearby building. After his arrest, he was taken to the Day Street Police Station, where he was denied bail and charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.
The identity of the would-be 'Rocky Balboa' was later revealed as Nicholas Troy Bolas. Public records show that Bolas had a history of encounters with law enforcement, including a burglary in which he stole a $2,500 LCD television, laptops, and the homeowner’s car, among other items.
5. No Time Like The Present
On the opposite side of the country, 49-year-old Aaron Edward Carter had the questionable idea to enter a Jack In The Box in Southern California at 5:30 AM, fully naked, solely to engage in inappropriate behavior in front of three female employees in February 2018.
However, nothing could match the audacity of Kevin Jones, an Orlando, Florida drifter, who was caught masturbating in a woman’s nursery closet while she was preparing her three-month-old daughter for daycare in December 2017. Thankfully, the woman’s fiancé intervened and confronted Jones, who refused to leave. In the heat of the moment, the fiancé sought out a knife, forcing the vagrant to flee. When arrested, Jones denied the accusations, but continued to exhibit inappropriate behavior during his police interview at the Sheriff's station.
4. ‘Wham, Wham, And Wham’
Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, a hitchhiker, became an internet sensation in 2013 after he saved a woman’s life by using a hatchet to strike a man in the head, who had just hit someone with his car. However, his rise to fame was short-lived after he was accused of the brutal murder of 73-year-old New Jersey lawyer Joseph Galfy Jr. While thousands rallied for McGillvary’s release, the details of Galfy’s violent death did not sit well with the local community, who opposed fundraisers for his legal defense. Authorities remain uncertain of the motive, but believe Galfy—found beaten and only wearing socks and underwear—may have had a sexual relationship with McGillvary.
According to McGillivary’s parents, their son has spent years in hospitals and treatment homes, struggling with behavioral issues. Despite the hardships he has faced, McGillivary has been held without bond ever since. He is facing murder charges in the death of Galfy, though he claims to have killed him in self-defense. Meanwhile, a petition titled “Free Kai Caleb Lawrence” has been created on Change.org.
3. Winter Romance
In the spirit of the season, a Good Samaritan listened to a homeless woman passing time in a Rite Aid store in December 2014. The woman, known only as Jane Doe, shared the hardships she had faced. Upon learning that she was four months pregnant and had nowhere to sleep except the freezing streets of Pittsburgh, the kind-hearted stranger invited her home for a warm meal. That night, Jane Doe was able to enjoy the rare gift of a hot shower and fresh clothes, courtesy of the generous homeowner.
However, the Good Samaritan’s kind gesture took a bizarre twist at 3:00 AM, when she woke up to find her pit bull missing from the bedroom. Upon searching for the dog, she discovered Jane Doe in a highly inappropriate act with the animal. The homeowner did not believe the act was consensual and demanded that her new guest clean up and leave.
Unwilling to let go of her newfound romance, Jane Doe became furious and expressed her anger by throwing a 5-pound dumbbell through the woman’s glass storm door. The enraged woman continued her destructive spree, smashing flower pots and garden lights before being arrested and charged with criminal mischief, defiant trespass, and, of course, sexual intercourse with an animal. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
2. A Late Night Surprise
In the dead of night, as everything lay still, a man with a flair for the unexpected was hiding in a New Jersey home. At approximately 4:00 AM on June 12, 2014, a mother called 911, terrified after discovering a stranger armed with a knife beneath her son's bed. Police rushed to the scene in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, to find 56-year-old wanderer Kenneth Webb soaking in the quiet solitude of the child's bedroom. Webb had entered the home by cutting through a screen window, after stealing a jewelry box and some loose change. Luckily, the mother, who was likely in shock, had her children—her son and infant daughter—safe in another room at the time. In the end, Webb was arrested and held on a $35,000 bail, charged with burglary and illegal possession of a weapon.
When the officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Kenneth Webb, a 56-year-old drifter, calmly lounging on the floor of the child's bedroom, having stolen a jewelry box and some change. Webb had broken into the house through a window screen, and fortunately for the terrified mother, her children were asleep in another room. Eventually, Webb was taken into custody, booked into the Bergen County Jail, and charged with burglary and unlawful weapon possession, with a $35,000 bail.
1. Live It Up Like a Rock Star
In 2012, the owners of a warehouse and rave venue in Phoenix, Arizona, were shocked to discover that a burglary had occurred. To make matters worse, the culprit was still inside the building, carelessly blasting music as if the world had come to an end. When the police arrived, they were horrified by the sight of the intruder: a homeless man covered in the entrails of an animal.
The man, later identified as 25-year-old Russell Christopher Hofstad, had committed the gruesome act of slaughtering a cat for dinner, only to skin the creature and fashion its tail and intestines into a necklace. Hofstad had further adorned his face with the cat's blood, fully embracing his macabre persona. Nearby, the remains of the cat were chilling on ice, accompanied by bloody tools like clippers and screwdrivers.
According to detectives, Hofstad, who was intoxicated at the time of his arrest, admitted to the brutal act of bludgeoning and stabbing the cat because he had not eaten in days. He also had plans to turn the cat's remains into a taxidermy display and use the skeleton as a bizarre party decoration. Despite his strange behavior, Hofstad was sentenced to two years in prison and four years of probation after his release.
