‘Stalking' Head Of Brooklyn Community Board Leaves Weird Online Trail Ahead Of Court Date

CARROLL GARDENS, BROOKLYN — The long-time district manager of Brooklyn's Community Board 6 is due back in court Friday on charges that he stalked and harassed an ex-girlfriend and then broke a restraining order against him.

Craig Hammerman is in the middle of a 60-day voluntary unpaid leave of absence from the board, an advisory panel that liaises with the city on local issues such as bike lanes, landmarks and liquor licenses for the neighborhoods of Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Gowanus and Park Slope.

As district manager, Hammerman is the only paid member of the board. He made $111,547 in 2016, city records show, and he's held the position for more than 20 years.

Since taking his leave in the middle of May, Hammerman has taken to Facebook to check in to the bar where he's accused of violating his restraining order and posted a cryptic photo of his desk in the district office.

According to complaints filed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, Hammerman used his ex-girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a Bed-Stuy hotel in late March, then made phone calls to the front desk using fake identities to try to speak to her. Hammerman has denied any wrongdoing.

Then, less than two weeks later, he violated a restraining order when he sat down next to her at a Park Slope bar and told her he was following her for her "safety," according to the complaints.

Hammerman checked in at that bar, The Gate, on May 16, nearly a week after his leave from the board was announced:

Hammerman's attorney, Joyce David, has told Patch that Hammerman is a regular there and that his ex-girlfriend "set him up" by showing up there when she knew there was a restraining order out for him.

The lawyer did not immediately return a phone message left by Patch on Monday seeking comment.

The community board said it is "reviewing" Hammerman's conduct and "considering" action against him, but he seems confident that he'll be back in his old job in no time.

The same night he checked into the bar, Hammerman posted a picture of his desk at the district office with the caption "#seeyousoon."

Hammerman apparently plans to spend the rest of his 60-day leave in the desert. On Monday afternoon, he took to Facebook again to announce "It's official. Flight booked. Am heading to the desert for a month. Leaving Saturday. Spirit healing and soul cleansing."

Sayar Lonial, the chair of the community board, told Patch in an email on Monday that the board's closed-door personnel, finance and law committee had not yet held another meeting to discuss Hammerman's status with the board.

And in Hammerman's absence, he said, "The District office staff has been great and the office is running smoothly."

PREVIOUSLY:

• Brooklyn Community Board Manager Used Ex's Uber Account To Stalk, Harass Her: DA
• Community Board Manager Remains In Post After Stalking Allegations
• City Law Department, Community Board 6 'Reviewing' District Manager Charged With Stalking Ex
• District Manager Hid Arrests From Community Board Members For A Year, They Say
• Community Board Manager Will Take Leave Of Absence While Stalking Review Continues: Source
• Brooklyn Community Board ‘Considering’ Action Against District Manager Charged With Stalking Ex

Image: Patch file photo