Drew Barrymore’s alleged stalker was arrested in New York on Thursday and later freed after the man had made multiple attempts to reach the actress during the week, including rushing the stage at a 92nd Street Y event at which he demanded to see her.
The 43-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was arrested by Southampton Town Police at 11:59 p.m. local time and booked in relation to a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of stalking, according to a press release from Lt. Todd Spencer, a spokesperson for the department, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He was held overnight and during a Friday morning arraignment, he was reportedly warned by Judge Barbara Wilson to stay away from the talk show host, a Southampton court source told the NY Post.
The man, who has a long criminal record, was then freed by the judge because of the state’s bail reform laws, the outlet noted. In 2019, a misdemeanor fourth-degree stalking charge was no longer bail-eligible following legislation that prevents judges from being able to send criminals of most misdemeanors to jail.
On Wednesday, the crazed fan was detained and released after he had been located going door to door in Barrymore’s neighborhood allegedly asking residents where the actress lived.
During a follow-up investigation, the department’s detectives were notified of the fan’s alleged conduct and prior reported incidents, which “led to facts that substantiated a charge for stalking,” according to the department, THR noted. On Thursday afternoon, he was taken into custody.
On Monday, the 48-year-old actress was talking with singer and actor Reneé Rapp during an event at a cultural center in Manhattan when the alleged stalker approached, interrupting the discussion, NBC News reported.
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Barrymore was discussing her career when she heard someone yelling her name, “Drew Barrymore,” and reportedly shouting his own name. It was then that the talk show host’s expression changed, and she said, “Oh my God! Yes! Hi!”
“You know who I am,” the man reportedly continued yelling. “I need to see you at some point while you’re in New York, okay?”
Rapp’s body language seemed to change rapidly as the man got closer to the stage. The singer then stood up, put her arm around Barrymore, and escorted her out of the room. In the clip, two people who look like security guards intercepted the man and escorted him out. There was no police report on the incident filed, the outlet noted.
Related: Drew Barrymore Ushered Away After Man Rushes Stage: ‘I Need To See You’