Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend

A 36 year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after he was allegedly caught hiding in a wooded area to watch his ex-girlfriend, according to police.

A complainant reported seeing a man hiding in the woods behind a Vermont Avenue home at 6:29 p.m Monday night, according to police, and said that he believed the man was watching children in the neighborhood.

As officers arrived at the scene, they witnessed the man, 36 year-old Daniel Gonzalez, fleeing the scene and running through the woods towards Home Depot on Kings Highway, police said.

Gonzalez was detained by police as he was running through the Home Depot parking lot, according to police, and initially denied that he was hiding in the woods. Officers eventually learned that he was stalking his ex-girlfriend, who resides at the Vermont Avenue home, and had been sending her numerous text messages, police said.

The victim told police that Gonzalez had been showing up to the residence unannounced and was seen driving past the home several times, police said. She requested his arrest upon learning that he was the person hiding in the woods, police said. 

Gonzalez was charged with third-degree stalking, second-degree harassment and interfering with a police officer. He is being held on a $5,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.