Alleged Taylor Swift stalker spotted outside home 30 times: reports
NEW YORK –
A man charged with stalking and harassment after his arrest near singer Taylor Swift’s Manhattan townhouse had been spotted there dozens of times in the past two months and was repeatedly asked to leave, according to court documents released Wednesday.
David Crowe, 33, of Seattle was taken into custody Monday evening and again Wednesday afternoon by officers responding to complaints of an emotionally disturbed man acting erratically near Swift’s home in the exclusive Tribeca neighbourhood, spokespeople for the New York Police Department said.
Crowe was arraigned Wednesday on stalking and harassment charges related to Monday’s arrest and given supervised release. The prosecutor’s request for an order of protection was granted, according to a spokesperson from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
A short time after leaving court, police say they arrested Crowe again near Swift’s townhouse and charged him with four counts of criminal contempt related to the protection order.
The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment with Crowe’s attorney in the public defender’s office.
Court documents say an unidentified security worker had spotted Crowe near the singer’s home about 30 times since Nov. 25. Crowe was asked about 10 times not to approach the building or to leave, according to the complaint.
In seeking supervised release Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Harriet Jiranek said Crowe’s “continued conduct in showing up to this location despite numerous directives to leave shows a clear risk that the defendant will not abide by court orders to return to court. “
It was unclear if Swift was home on Monday or Wednesday when Crowe was taken into custody. A representative for the singer did not return emails from the AP seeking comment. Police would not confirm reports that Crowe also was detained Saturday outside the townhouse and released.
Swift on Sunday was in the Buffalo, New York, area, where her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, played against the Buffalo Bills in an NFL playoff game. The Chiefs won 27-24.
Swift’s Manhattan townhouse has been the scene of several break-ins when Swift wasn’t there, including by some who were identified as stalkers.
