Homeless man charged after caught charging his cellphones

He was charged with theft of services for charging his two cellphones in an outdoor electrical outlet hidden behind some flowers. Amazingly, this four paragraph story has resulted in over 470 comments. (Bangor Daily News)

Comments

[twerp]

Wow. This is quite a divided issue.

While I think stealing is wrong, if I found out a homeless dude used my outdoor outlet to charge his cell, I wouldn't make a big deal of it. If I didn't want him using my outlet, I'd stick a lockbox over it. Simple enough.

If a cop stuck his nose in and arrested the guy without my knowledge, I'd stick up for the guy and say I "let" him use it (whether or not it's the case). Then I'd have a talk with the homeless guy and tell him he should've asked first. More than likely, I wouldn't have any issues with him using my outlet as a charging station. It depends on the homeless guy though. I'd have to meet him first before I'd make up my mind.

[Phranqlin]

Cost of electricity to charge two cell phones: $0.05

Cost of arresting, incarcerating, and dragging the homeless cell phone charger into court: $5000.00+

Bad publicity: Priceless

[KDP]

Phranq, I'd be surprised if it took that much electrical service to charge two batteries. It would be a different story if the guy were running a portable D.J. setup in the parking lot. But I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment. Very bad publicity.

[Tom Cooke]

Kick him again so he can't get up ....Hurry Kick him again.. He was probably a disabled vereran too..!

[Bill]

But let me play devil's advocate here.

Is this the guys only trangression?

--OR--

Is this guy a general nuisance who creates problems by aggressive panhandling,vandalism, defecation, and other acts that SOME homeless people are responsible for?

This guy may be the victi of an overzealous cop, OR this may have been the way they locked up a guy who needed to be locked up.

Since I am not from Bangor, I just don;t know.

[stevenvictx]

I think it more of a trespassing issue if it was my outlet, the electricity would be the last thing i would care about.

[twerp]

I can understand that, stevenvictx. It would give me the heebie jeebies to run into a hobo on my property. I might have to call the cops for that.

[Me (the original)]

Wait a minute. He's homeless and got TWO cellphones??? The main question I have, is "What is he using them for?"

[Somebody]

Man, what's with all these homeless people wandering around outdoors where we can see 'em? They should stay out of sight unless *we* want to see them! Maybe some young teens can prepare for military service by kicking the shit out of 'em.

[Bobba Fett]

It was stupid to arrest the guy or gal. But really, TWO cell phones for a homeless person? Most of us struggle to afford one. Maybe he just kept addresses and numbers in the other one. I run across homeless people everyday on my walk home from work here in DC. I find it strange they smoke and talk on cells phones while extending the cup asking for spare money. None of my money is to be considered "spare".

[Tom Weidermeijer]

... well one WAS his business line.

[Displaced]

That seems like one of those crimes that only homeless people get arrested for. If you have some well-dressed person outdoors eating lunch or some such thing, that person certainly wouldn't be arrested. I had one early-adopter friend who plugged his almost-worthless phone in every time he saw an outlet.

It's not hard to imagine a homeless person with a cell phone. Few people are born homeless. They lose things gradually. Are you all saying that if you lost your house today, you'd give up your phone because of the incongruity? Plus, it's much easier to pay for a phone if it's not on top of other household bills. You're all thinking like people who live indoors.

[twerp]

Hell, cell phones are CHEAP these days. You can get a prepaid cell for $10. All you have to do is take some cash to Wal-Mart and activated a phone card to keep the minutes up and the cards are cheap. A lot of job applications ask for two contact numbers. I'm not dissin him for having two phones. It's probably not a bad idea. At least he has a back up for when the battery goes dead in the other.

[RockyMtnMac]

I'll bet he is secretly that Nigerian Prince that has been texting me about the millions I have coming my way...

[sometimesilie]

And if you would only give him the funds he needs to unlock his account, he would not be in such a predicament. Shame on you, RMM!

[RockyMtnMac]

I tried, SIL, but his phone keeps going dead.

[sometimesilie]

LOL