Homeless man shoeless again in NYC

Says he's hidden boots given to him by NYPD officer because they're worth money

12/3/2012

ASSOCIATED PRESS

This photo provided by Jennifer Foster shows New York City Police Officer Larry DePrimo presenting a barefoot homeless man in New York's Time Square with boots on Nov. 14.

NEW YORK — The New York City homeless man who became famous after a police officer offered him a pair of boots is shoeless again.

The New York Times found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.

Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman said he's hidden them because “they are worth a lot of money.” He said he could lose his life over them.

He said he was grateful for the gift. But he said he wanted “a piece of the pie” because the photo went on the Internet “without permission.”

An Arizona tourist snapped the photo. It went viral after it was posted on the NYPD's Facebook page.