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Friday, December 26, 2025

The Upstate Owl

"Watching the Upstate Since 2024" • Greenville, South Carolina

Local Politics

Masked Vigilante 'Hero 119' Exploits Loophole In Greenville's Anti-Lying-Down Ordinance

Mysterious figure naps on public benches for exactly 119 minutes before calmly relocating

By Staff Writer ·
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Masked Vigilante 'Hero 119' Exploits Loophole In Greenville's Anti-Lying-Down Ordinance

GREENVILLE — A caped figure has become the unlikely face of civil disobedience in downtown Greenville, exploiting what critics are calling a glaring loophole in the city's recently enacted ordinance prohibiting lying down on public property.

The man, who identifies himself only as "Hero 119," has spent the past week lying on park benches across the city for precisely 119 minutes at a time—one minute shy of the two-hour limit that triggers a citation under the new law.

"I've been watching this guy for six days straight," said Officer Marcus Webb of the Greenville Police Department, visibly exhausted. "Every single time, at exactly one hour and 59 minutes, he sits up, walks to the next bench, and starts the whole thing over. It's like he's got a timer built into his brain."

The ordinance, approved by City Council in November, was designed to address concerns about individuals residing on public property. But lawmakers apparently did not anticipate a masked man in a homemade cape methodically rotating between every bench in Falls Park.

"We're looking into whether there's a provision about consecutive bench usage," said City Attorney Diane Holloway, flipping through a thick binder. "Unfortunately, the ordinance is silent on the matter of... whatever this is."

Hero 119 has become something of a folk legend on Main Street. A small but devoted following has begun timing their own bench sessions, with some enthusiasts creating a shared Google Calendar to track which benches are "available" at any given time.

"He's not breaking any laws. He's just really, really good at reading them," said admirer Stephanie Cooke, 34, who was spotted at NOMA Square with a stopwatch around her neck. "I've started doing 118-minute sessions myself. You feel alive out there."

When approached for comment, Hero 119 simply glanced at his wristwatch, noted he had 43 minutes remaining on his current bench, and resumed staring at the sky.

"I am the loophole," he said quietly, before closing his eyes.

City Council is reportedly scheduling an emergency session to discuss a potential amendment, though several members have expressed concern that any revision might inadvertently create new loopholes.

"At this point, I'm afraid to touch it," admitted Councilwoman Rita Barnes. "We patch one hole, he'll find another. The man has clearly studied the municipal code more carefully than we have."

As of press time, Hero 119 had completed his 14th rotation of the day and was settling into a bench near the Peace Center with what witnesses described as "an extremely content expression."