Changing Out of Skid Row Rags to Claim His Riches

For about 20 years, Long Beach police say, Steven Kent has lived the life of a penniless stewbum--drinking in public, sleeping in alleys, getting busted more than 75 times for a variety of minor offenses.

But thanks to the efforts of a sympathetic patrolman, Kent was slicked up, sobered up and on his way to Ohio Wednesday night, where officials say he is expected to inherit about $300,000 from the estate of an affluent relative.

David Marander, a public affairs officer with the Long Beach Police Department, said it’s actually the second time the 45-year-old vagrant tried to head east to claim his inheritance.

“The first time, he wasn’t in such good shape,” Marander said. “Because of his vagrant appearance, the driver had to ask him to leave the bus.”

But Long Beach police have gotten to know Kent over the years, and they think that, givena chance, he might be able to turn his life around.

“You might say he’s sort of a familiar face around here,” Marander said. “He’s gotten lots of tickets, but it’s always for small misdemeanors. He’s never been violent, never been involved in a serious crime. He’s just a homeless alcoholic, down on his luck.”

When Kent’s sister in Ohio filed a missing person report, Marander said, patrol Cpl. Ron Quarn, who has arrested Kent dozens of times, knew just where to look: an alley near Broadway and Golden Avenue, where the homeless man often has spent the night.

“Quarn took him to jail,” Marander said. “Quarn made sure he got cleaned up, got him a haircut and bought him some clothes and a pair of shoes.”

Quarn did not want to talk about it, but Marander said his fellow officer saw it as “an opportunity for a police officer who cares to give a man who needs it a little help.”

“I just hope he takes advantage of this opportunity,” Marander said. “I hope everything turns out all right.”

Marander said officers kept Kent in custody until they drove him to the bus station Wednesday night, “so there wouldn’t be any distractions.”

Emerging from a squad car at the depot, Kent wore a button-up shirt, navy slacks, beige jacket and new black tennis shoes. Hair, beard and mustache had been neatly trimmed.

“It’s all kind of surprising,” he offered. “I’m not gonna be homeless anymore.”

At first, he said, he thought he had inherited only $25,000, and he didn’t want to go claim it. Now, though, he plans to “put it in the bank” and live in Ohio.

It has been 14 years, Kent said, since he saw his sister. But he will miss his homeless friends, more than half a dozen of whom showed up at the bus station to hug him and see him off.

“We think,” one female friend said, “he’s gonna get off at the next town and come right back.”