Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
He refused to leave, when the tenant found him.
A quiet Sunday morning took an unexpected turn when a tenant discovered an uninvited sleeper on their living-room couch.
Local stations WGME and WABI reported that the resident woke early on Nov. 23 and found 50-year-old Jose Harvey of Milford asleep inside the Bangor apartment.
According to their coverage, the tenant immediately called police around 8:40 a.m. after the man refused to leave.
When officers questioned him, the outlets said Harvey offered no reasonable explanation for why he was inside the home. Both stations noted that several Christmas presents near the couch had been opened.
Harvey was taken into custody and charged with aggravated criminal trespass, WGME and WABI reported. PEOPLE, which reviewed jail records, said he was later released from Penobscot County Jail by Nov. 30.
Holiday-season warning
According to WGME and WABI, the tenant told officers the apartment’s bathroom window had been left open while the doors remained locked.
After WABI posted the story on Facebook, Bangor police reposted the story (thereby confirming that it actually happened).
The authorities also used the moment to remind residents to double-check their homes during the busy holiday period.
“It goes without saying that doing a routine check of your window and door locks is a prudent exercise in this day and age. I know, we shouldn’t have to—it makes us sad, too,” the department wrote.
They added that such surprises rarely inspire cheer, noting, “even the Grinch figured out the chimney is always an option.”
Safety reminders
The department’s message continued with practical seasonal advice: “It pays to lock your doors and windows. Oh, and make sure that gifts and packages are not left in the automobiles, even if it’s in your own dooryard.”
They also encouraged residents to keep belongings out of sight while shopping and to maintain basic civility during the holidays. “Keep your hands to yourself, leave other people’s things alone, and be kind to one another,” the post said.
Sources: WGME, WABI, PEOPLE
