He is William Footman, 55, and after his arrest, he became ill and was transferred to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward. It was there that he met me on Thursday, slouched in a wheelchair pushed by a correction officer. He was far thinner than he was in a photo taken when he was released from prison three years ago.

He had sold crack to an undercover officer in 2001, and had been in and out of prison and jail since the 1990s. This week, he was recovering from an infection following shoulder surgery. He rubbed his stubbled face and answered questions.

“I didn’t do it,” he said.

But then he clarified. He did not steal a rug the morning he was arrested. It was a rug from the company where he said he worked in the Bronx, Imperial Carpet.

He did not steal any of the rugs on the list dating back to March, he said. “I wasn’t even in town on some of those dates,” he said. Besides, he said, he got free rugs from his job. He said he had worked there on and off since the 1970s to support his family. “I have 15 daughters,” he said. “They’re grown. Now it’s like I’ve got 15 mothers.”

He was out of work for a spell. That was a year ago. So, he said, he stole rugs. From banks.

“Maybe seven,” he said. “All over the city.” Always at night, he said. He was never caught.

What did he do with the rugs?

“I sell them to bodegas,” he said. “Their floors get wet.” He got $30 and higher per rug, he said. It was unclear on Friday what the rugs were worth.

The police said he confessed, but Mr. Footman said that was not true. Corroborating his story proved difficult. A man who answered the phone at Imperial Carpet in the Bronx said he had never heard of him. And Mr. Footman declined to name any of his 15 daughters or their mother, his wife.

Then, his story told, and his arm giving him some pain, he said, “I’m good,” and asked the officer to wheel him, over the bare, cold floor, back to bed.