Man Fights City Hall by Releasing 100 Live Bedbugs

The man in Maine was apparently upset he didn't qualify for city assistance
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 3, 2017 2:31 PM CDT
Man Releases Live Bedbugs, Shuts Down City Hall
A 'disgruntled' man released 100 or so live bedbugs Friday at a city hall office in Maine.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

In 40 years of government work, a city manager in Maine says he's "never had anything as yucky as this." The Kennebec Journal reports a "disgruntled" man entered Augusta city hall Friday and promptly shut it down by releasing dozens of bedbugs. “He whipped out a cup [full of live bedbugs] and slammed it on the counter, and bam, off they flew, maybe 100 of them,” city manager William Bridgeo says. At least one of the bugs landed on a city employee, and the assistant city manager was reduced to using Windex in an attempt to stun the bugs while pest control was on its way.

Police were immediately called and found the unnamed man, WGME reports. Bridgeo filed a complaint against the man, but police have yet to decide if he'll be charged with anything. The man, who released the bedbugs in the city's General Assistance office, was apparently upset after requesting a form to get assistance and being told he didn't qualify. The bedbugs were reportedly from his former apartment. Augusta city hall was closed for the rest of the weekend. Bedbug-detecting dogs are expected to check for any remaining bugs Monday after pest control gets through with the building. (More bedbugs stories.)

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