A Brooklyn subtenant's videos documenting alleged harassment by his roommate have gone viral, detailing a living situation described as hellish, complete with surveillance cameras, padlocked doors, and the use of jars for bodily waste.
Kyle “Bobby” Harvey, 30, stated he began filming his experiences with roommate Stephen Pulido as a way to document the bizarre behavior, which he believes was an attempt by Pulido to force him and other roommates out of their four-bedroom apartment in Bushwick. The apartment is reportedly leased for $4,200 per month.
Harvey, a video editor and web designer, began subleasing the apartment in November 2023. Initially, he found Pulido, the overtenant, to have an "off vibe," but the situation escalated. Harvey reported incidents including locked bathrooms, dismantled doorknobs, bottles filled with urine, and security cameras positioned outside his bedroom door.
The viral videos, which have garnered over 20 million views on Instagram, include compilations of interactions with Pulido, police visits, and instances of Pulido allegedly yelling at roommates, turning off lights, and slamming refrigerator doors.
During an episode of severe pneumonia in February, Harvey reported that Pulido allegedly locked the apartment's only working bathroom from the inside and sealed the door with duct tape. When Harvey attempted to unlock it, Pulido reportedly became aggressive, leading to police being called twice. In response to the lack of access to the bathroom, Harvey and other roommates resorted to urinating in bottles, according to roommate Joe Medina, who has lived in the apartment for two years.
Medina described experiencing anxiety due to the unpredictable nature of living in the apartment. Video and photo evidence reportedly show Pulido slamming a metal door onto Harvey's foot. Pulido also allegedly installed a security camera in the common area, pointed directly at Harvey's bedroom. Pulido later texted Medina, stating, "I record everything in the common area now."
A heated exchange in March over an unusually high toilet paper bill resulted in Pulido texting Harvey that he could no longer use the kitchen or bathroom, including the message, "NO ONE LIVES IN MY HOME FOR FREE, YOU WORTHLESS TRASHCAN OF A HUMAN BEING."
Harvey has been advised by a housing lawyer to withhold rent, a decision he and Medina have made. Harvey stated his intention to remain in the apartment and continue documenting events until a legal eviction notice is served.
Pulido has since allegedly installed a new padlock on the bathroom door, hidden toilet paper, and removed the apartment's air conditioning panel during a heatwave. He has also reportedly entered roommates' rooms without permission to rearrange items or show the rooms to prospective tenants.
Former roommates have corroborated claims of difficult living situations. Carlos Brumfield, who lived with Pulido from March 2023 to June 2024, alleged Pulido once locked him out of his bedroom while he was showering, forcing him to use the fire escape to get dressed. Brumfield also reported Pulido confronting him at the bathroom door and making threats.
Leo Mark Avery, who resided in the apartment from January 2023 to July 2024, described frequent heated arguments. In late June, Pulido allegedly had a process server deliver a "notice to vacate" to Harvey, which Harvey claims did not meet the required 90-day notice period for long-term residents.
Records indicate that the building's registration expired in September 2024. Harvey's landlord, Justin Rubinstein, reportedly received written notices of Pulido's behavior but stated he was reluctant to intervene in roommate disputes. Rubinstein did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Pulido declined to comment on the allegations, citing ongoing legal proceedings and a harassment complaint he filed with the NYPD. Police reports indicate Pulido filed complaints alleging his roommates antagonized him, including one on July 15 for a verbal dispute and another on June 29 for receiving threatening text messages.