An American social media personality was released on Saturday, one day after being arrested in Taipei for trespassing in Taoyuan’s Yangmei Station in January during a trip around the nation, a police news release said yesterday.
The influencer was identified as 26-year-old Jacob Pugmire from the US, New Taipei City’s Tamsui Police Precinct said in the release, adding that officers took him into custody on Friday over an outstanding warrant.
Pugmire, who is based in Taiwan as a modeling content creator and fitness entrepreneur, was on an around-the-nation walk earlier this year, which took him to Yangmei Station.
Photo: Hsu Cho-hsun, Taipei Times
In an earlier post on social media, Pugmire said that he intended to rest overnight in the train station after being told by netizens it was acceptable to do so.
The information was false, and the stationmaster filed a lawsuit against Pugmire after he posted content of himself sleeping inside the station.
Pugmire was accused of trespassing, in contravention of Article 306 of the Criminal Code, which states that “a person who without reason enters a dwelling house or structure of another” would be subjected to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to NT$9,000.
As he was traveling when the lawsuit was filed against him, Pugmire was unable to provide police with a statement until May.
A court date for the case was set for this month, which Pugmire said he was not informed about.
Because Pugmire failed to show up in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The Tamsui Police Precinct said that one of its officers during an online patrol found Pugmire’s livestream. Personnel were then dispatched to Pugmire’s location and he was arrested.
Pugmire was then taken into the custody of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office before being released on Saturday.
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