Man accused of stalking New York cafe owner by plane has been arrested again

SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. -- A small plane pilot who authorities say has stalked 
a New York woman for years, flying low and sometimes throwing tomatoes, 
has been arrested for a fifth time.

Michael Arnold, 65, of Schuylerville, was ordered held without bail 
following his Feb. 1 arrest on misdemeanor counts of stalking and criminal 
contempt, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said.

Arnold is accused of waiting for and following the victim on Jan. 12 in 
violation of an order of protection. He appeared in Saratoga Town Court 
and was ordered held pending a future appearance.

His attorney did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment 
Thursday.

The misdemeanors add to a growing list of pending charges against Arnold 
in New York and Vermont, where he kept his 1976 Cessna 180 single-engine 
plane.

Arnold is accused of harassing a cafe owner in the village of 
Schuylerville for more than four years, beginning in October 2019 when he 
came into her cafe, the Times Union of Albany reported. Following an email 
that included a picture of himself partially clothed, he began flying his 
plane over the woman's home, the newspaper said.

Arnold pleaded not guilty in Vermont in October to several charges, 
including aggravated stalking. He was released on the condition that he 
stay away from the woman and airplanes.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-accused-stalking-new-york-cafe-
owner-plane-107077358