Man accused of following New York cafe owner on plane has been arrested again

SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say the pilot of a small plane has led a pursuit New York A woman who has been flying low and occasionally throwing tomatoes for years has been arrested for the fifth time.

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

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

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

The misdemeanor case joins the growing list of charges pending against Arnold in New York VermontWhere he kept his 1976 Cessna 180 single-engine aircraft.

Arnold is accused of harassing a cafe owner in Schuylerville Village for more than four years, starting in October 2019 when he showed up at her cafe, the Times Union of Albany reports. According to the newspaper, after receiving an email that included a photo of him partially clothed, he began flying his plane over the woman’s home.

Arnold pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in Vermont in October hot pursuit, He was released on the condition that he stay away from women and airplanes.

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