Homeless Man Arrested For Camping Near Highway

A homeless man who was camping near a state highway has been arrested.

Colorado State Patrol says 53-year-old Roy Gleiter was arrested around 8:30 Wednesday morning. He is being charged with unlawful conduct on public property.

A major with CSP offered to bring him to a shelter, but he refused.

His belongings were taken to a CSP facility and will be available for Gleiter to retrieve when he is released. His 73-year-old companion, Debra Cowden, was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation but has no charges filed against her.

On Tuesday, KRDO NewsChannel 13 told you that Gleiter’s attorney was fighting an order from the Colorado Department of Transportation that was trying to force Gleiter off the highway.

Attorney Matt Martin said Gleiter and Cowden have a right to camp near the road east of Pueblo. According to the Pueblo Chieftain, Gleiter was given three days Thursday to get off the right of way and stay off.

The department accuses Gleiter of trespass and being a nuisance. Gleiter says he lost his home in Gulfport, Miss., to Hurricane Katrina. He says he is heading to the West Coast pulling a wagon to protest American greed.