The Huntington Beach father, walking with the baby, said his neighbor mistook him for a homeless man and was unsure after calling the police.
Chapmanhamborg, 32, is a young father of four children and an artist who manages his studio in the city.
He was riding his usual morning walk in a baby sling with his newborn daughter as the police officer suddenly stood up and approached him.
They received a call from a neighbor who claimed to be a homeless man with a stolen baby.
The woman reportedly got into her car and followed her home. When police ask Hamborg to provide him with the identity that he actually lived in the house, that’s when he began to document the interaction.
The video has been shared on his Instagram page and has since been viewed over 50 million times.
The video posted on Instagram showing 32-year-old Chapman Hamburger spoke to police after being mistaken for a homeless man while walking his baby in a Huntington Beach neighborhood. (@thhamborgs) The video posted on Instagram showing 32-year-old Chapman Hamburger spoke to police after being mistaken for a homeless man while walking his baby in a Huntington Beach neighborhood. (@Thehamborgs) Chapman Hamburg will speak to KTLA on June 5th, 2025. (KTLA) Chapman Hamborg’s work, Unseen Paths, is sold for 20% of revenues supporting the Orange County United Way’s homeless efforts. (KTLA) Chapman Hamborg is a local artist and father of four who owns the Hamburg Academy of Art Studios in Huntington Beach. (KTLA)
In the video, Hamborg is heard telling his wife what was going on, and she replies with amusement and distrust.
At the time, Hamborg was wearing sweatpants and a fleece jacket. He had a beard and his long hair was tied to bread.
He tells police he was surprised that his neighbors haven’t seen him yet as he walks around the neighborhood several times a day. The officer tells Hamborg the woman who reported that he lives on one street from his home.
Hamborg says he is not mad at the misunderstanding and admits that being a tired parent of a newborn may have made him appear a little more solid than usual.
“I’m a little upset,” he said with a laugh. “I wasn’t ready for the day yet. I raised my hair onto the messy bedhead. My pants were a bit baggy and there was a hole in my slippers.”
Despite looking a bit of a mess, Hamborg said he was still quite surprised by the incident.
“I was really shocked and embarrassed by everything,” he said.
After Hamborg’s social media post went viral about the incident, he said he urged him to think more about the issues and stigma surrounding the homelessness.
“These stereotypes of what homeless people look like can actually be harmful,” he said.
So Hamburg decided to take action and make the most of his new attention.
He sells limited edition prints of the painting “Unseen Paths,” and donates 20% of his revenue to Orange County United Way’s Homeless Outreach.
“This was an incredible opportunity to help people uncover some of the myths and misinformation they have about homelessness,” explained Beckhayhokalil, executive director of United’s Homelessness Initiative at Orange County United Way.
Hamborg said the incident highlights the challenges of homeless parents and individuals being targeted and discriminated against every day.
He said he appreciates turning his situation into a positive one and raising money as well as raising awareness of key issues that affect many communities.
