Bums: Making a Mess All Over the City
Criminal Activities
Assault
Threatening another with imminent physical harm or displaying a weapon in a manner that puts others in reasonable fear of harm; in many jurisdictions brandishing a firearm or threatening violence is a criminal offense.
Situation:
"After confronting the masturbating man in the alley, members of the group physically confront him; someone says 'I kicked that guy's ass' and the group is shown using a bat/intimidation to force the man out of the alley."
Attempted arson
Intentionally starting a fire or attempting to burn property, or acting with reckless disregard for causing fire damage.
Situation:
"Charlie pours gasoline over the police car and declares he's 'putting an end to this' after anger at Frank—he admits 'I doused the whole car full of gasoline,' an act amounting to attempted arson/reckless endangerment even if no ignition is shown in the transcript."
Conspiracy to Commit Property Damage
Agreement and plan to damage another person's property in order to 'frame' them for the wrongdoing.
Situation:
"The gang discusses staging damage to a hot dog vendor's cart (or otherwise sabotaging it) to 'put the frame on Frank' and get him in trouble over a dispute with the vendor—an expressed plan to commit wrongful property damage and falsely implicate someone."
Extortion
Obtaining property, money, or another advantage from someone by wrongful use of force, threats, or coercion; using threats of harm or other intimidating conduct to compel payment or compliance.
Situation:
"Charlie confronts a man for 'jaywalking,' demands money and the man's watch ('Gimme your watch'), takes $15 and the watch; the group discusses splitting the money and keeping the watch—conduct consistent with extortion and robbery."
Harassment
Course of conduct (repeated following/harassment) directed at a person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear, alarm, or harassment; often criminalized as stalking or harassment and frequently enforced by restraining orders.
Situation:
"While posing as 'Guardian Angels'/'cops,' the group aggressively confronts local residents, makes threats ('I will jam you up'), and uses fear/intimidation as a tactic to 'clean up the streets,' creating a pattern of harassment and disorderly conduct toward the community."
Impersonation of a police officer
Wearing police-style uniforms/badges and using a police car to present themselves as law enforcement when they are not authorized to do so.
Situation:
"The gang acquires an old police car, puts on berets/uniforms and acts as 'Guardian Angels'/'cops', cruising the streets, stopping people, and representing themselves as officers despite having no legal authority or official badges."
Public indecency
Organizing, facilitating, or participating in lewd sexual activity in a public place or business (acts that can constitute public indecency or creating a public nuisance).
Situation:
"Early in the episode the gang complains about 'a masturbating bum in the alley' who is openly masturbating and alarming customers/owners of the business."