Stalking - How To Stop A Stalker
How to Stop a Stalker
Although antistalking laws give police and prosecutors the tools to arrest and charge stalkers with serious criminal offenses, victims of stalking have an important role to play in making these laws work. Law enforcement officials, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE counselors, and mental health professionals offer the following advice to victims on how to stop a stalker:
- now the law. Because antistalking laws are new, some police officers may not know how the laws work. A stalking victim should visit the public library or a county law library and obtain a copy of the state's antistalking law. Victims should show the police the law when filing the stalking complaint and ask whether they should first seek a protective order against the stalker. In some states a violation of a protective order converts a stalking charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.
- Cooperate with prosecutors. Many stalking victims refuse to prosecute the stalker, thereby leaving themselves vulnerable to continued threats and violence. Some victims fear that prosecution will provoke worse behavior from the perpetrator. Nevertheless, victims should use the legal system and break any bond that may exist between themselves and the stalker.
- Protect yourself. Persons who are stalked should take steps to protect themselves and those around them. Neighbors and coworkers should be informed about the stalker, be given a photograph of the suspect, and be instructed on what to do if the stalker is sighted. Security officers at the victim's workplace should be provided with this information. Caller ID, which identifies telephone callers, should be installed on the victim's telephone. If the stalker makes repeated phone calls, the victim should ask the police to set up a phone tap.
- Collect evidence. A stalking victim should collect and preserve evidence that can be used to prosecute and convict the stalker. Police suggest that the victim keep a diary of stalking and other crimes committed by the perpetrator. It is also a good idea to photograph property destroyed by the stalker and any injuries inflicted by the stalker. The victim should keep all letters or notes written by the stalker and all answering machine tapes that contain messages from the perpetrator.
FURTHER READINGS
Proctor, Mike. 2003. How to Stop a Stalker. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books.
Schell, Bernadette H. 2000. Stalking, Harassment, and Murder in the Workplace: Guidelines for Protection and Prevention. Westport, Conn.: Quorum Books.
User Comments Add a comment…
about 1 month ago
Maryanne » shebamae6 ((at)) yahoo dot com
Since the date of my comments posted on this site concerning Dr. Leonard Lado and the Collier County Police Department I have mediated the situation with Dr. Lado and make the following statement:
"The parties have met and have discussed their differences and have come to a mutual agreement resolving them. They regret the comments that they have posted, due to the emotional nature of the statements, they should not be considered factually accurate and ask that tney be removed from all websites and that others disregard them>"
6 months ago
mw
Silent stalkers (more than one - now known as group stalking) are some of the worse kind of stalkers. Most silent stalkers use family, and sometimes are family members, friends, old co-workers, co-workers, neighbors to follow the victim from place to place and even state to state. Hiding and stopping these experienced (group) stalkers both electronically and personally is not easy. I have been a victim of stalking for at least 15 years and possibly more. The worst part is that a few of these stalkers are family members that are well connected from a business perspective. Stalkers unfairly imprison their victims. They also try and steal the ability to have a real life (free from harassment) from their victim(s) by trying to intimidate friends, potential friends, bosses, co-workers, etc into staying away from or alienating the victim. Sometimes stalkers do this because of business reasons (money), retaliation, harassment, hate, unhealthy need for power over the victim, and sometimes it all of the above. The difficult part of leaving a family situation is the requirement to completely drop out of their lives. The other part is not knowing if you will be able to survive without the support of the people who are being keeping you imprisoned. Especially if they find you (or can track you) in the new location. The not knowing part is, in my opinion, the hardest part of leaving or attempting to leave or moving away from any type of domestic or other violent crime like stalking. Finding people who will listen and not get intimidated by the stalkers (situation) is a another piece to the problem.
9 months ago
charlotte » charlotte_rhoda ((at)) yahoo dot com
I too am victimized but by an old lover. He is mentally ill and will not stop harrassing me. Today he sent me an e-mail that was forwarded from the state board of nursing and he accused me of arranging a break in to his house. They stated they would investigate his complaint. He is scaring me to death. He told me last week he has a handgun and would visit me next week to visit my family. I don't know what to do. A piece of paper will not do much to protect me and he always gets my new phone number somehow. Please advise. Thanks, Charlotte
about 1 year ago
marianne » shebamae6 ((at)) yahoo dot com
COLLIER COUNTY POLICE DEPT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MULTIPLE COMPLAINS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT , STALKING AND HATE CRIME BECAUSE OF THE PRESTIGE OF THE PERPETRATOR
As a registered nurse for 20 years none of the local hospitals in my area would hire me because I refused to and continue to refuse to have sexual relationship with. Leonardo lado. He has been calling prospective employers with lies making it impossible for me and my children to find work in Naples Florida. After moving to New York I was able to find work immediately
The local collier county police dept continue to protect this sexual predator.
All anyone has to do is look into his back ground to find he's a women abuser, chronic liar, sexual predator and stalker. However the letters M.D behind his name serve as a shield for this psychopathic behavior.
Never dated this man, never socialized with this man, nothing was done to seduce this man.
This man became obsess with destroying my family.
When I went to work at the willoughs of Naples as a registered nurse.....I was escaping the stress of critical care nursing ...I had no idea I would end up sexually assaulted and stalked.... for approximately four months ( LEONARD LADO) a psychiatrist on staff whispered inappropriate sexual word in my ears .. Constantly went out of his way to touch and feel where ever he could ...I was constantly invited to his office...all of this was reported to the administrators ...however nothing was done.
This mad man showered at my house requesting “an all night ".which I ignored ...he went on talking about his multiple failed marriages and bad relationships ..After about 1hr of listening to his problems.... he left. Soon after I started receiving explicit sexual phone calls ...i.e. "My penis is bigger than the average you know" “I might no look like it but am a black man would you like to see" .....In one phone call I was offered $2,000 per month for sex in return ....the phone calls kept coming ....request for phone sex was a frequent. I have changed my phone number 4-5times a year since 2002 my initial contact with this sex predator ...I even changed job several time and asked him to stop calling , but the calls came more frequent both in Spanish and English...my self and my children were constantly followed ...and harassed by him or his friends ...
The local police (Tim Smith) said he would have to physically harm me or my family before they could do anything. The EEOC (Latoya Allen) was useless Incompetent and the waste of my time and intelligence.
He told the medical boards that I was upset the relationship ended . WE NEVER DATED.
!
I was able to find work immediately in NY. With out this man following me and lying to prospective employers.
I never knew a human being could be a stalking savage animal seeking blood of innocent people that have absolutely no relationship with him or his mental diseases. My children don't know him I only worked with this beast of a human. Did not find him attractive, interesting . I am more than sure he is a criminal capable of murder and it's frightening and unbelievable to know this man is allowed to practice medicine and treat patients.
worked 2-3 jobs at a time while attending classes... no desire to defraud hospitals or doctors of anything ... However refuse to prostitute myself to some sick doctor at his sick perverted request.hard working nurse not a prostitute as this mad man is confusing me with his family members or prior wives, prostitutes and acquaintances.
here is one of his latest contact.
Sent: Friday, November 2, 2007 9:20:36 AM
Subject: your e-mail address
WWW.LADOHEALINGPEOPLE.COM.
WWW.LLADOMD@EARTHLINK .NET