Taylor Swift's Alleged Stalker Released From NYPD Custody After First Hearing

A man arrested and charged with stalking Taylor Swift outside her Manhattan home was released by police after a hearing on Wednesday (January 24).

David Crowe, 31, was arrested both Saturday and Monday outside Swift's TriBeCa apartment building. Manhattan prosecutors, who charged the man with one count of stalking and two counts of harassment, say Crowe was seen at the location more than 30 times since November.

At the first court hearing Wednesday, a judge ordered Crowe released from custody, but issued an order of protection barring him from trying to contact Swift and imposed supervision to ensure he complies with the order and returns to court for the next hearing.

The charges against Crowe were not eligible for bail under New York law, but prosecutors had asked the judge to impose “supervised release at the highest possible level and level.”

“The defendant's continued behavior in appearing at this location despite numerous instructions to leave indicates a clear risk that the defendant will not comply with court orders to return to court.” Harriet Jiranek the judge said at the hearing. “Based on the conduct in this case, the defendant should be under some level of supervision to ensure he complies with the protection order and returns to court as directed.

Crowe was first arrested Saturday afternoon, police say, after responding to a 911 call about a “restless person” near Swift's apartment. Crowe allegedly “attempted to open a door to a building at the location” and was taken into custody on a previous warrant.

Then on Monday night, witnesses reported an “emotionally disturbed man acting erratically” near the same location, police say. Officers then found Crowe “harassing multiple complainants” and he was taken into custody.

In the charging documents, prosecutors say a security guard for an unidentified person — who was assumed to be Swift — reported that Crowe had been spotted near Swift's apartment about 30 times since late November and that on several occasions he had stated he was there for the same anonymous person to speak. The guard reported that he had “asked the defendant not to approach the building or leave the immediate area around the building” on 10 separate occasions.

If convicted of the charges — all felonies — Crowe faces up to three months in prison for both stalking and first-degree harassment. If convicted of his third count, second-degree harassment, Crowe faces up to a year in prison.

Swift's publicist did not immediately return a request for comment on the incident. Crowe could not immediately be reached for comment.