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Alleged stalker of Serena arrested Posted: Saturday August 31, 2002 4:37 PMUpdated: Sunday September 01, 2002 10:42 AM NEW YORK (AP) -- A love-crazed German man, who spent the last year pursuing Serena Williams around the world, was arrested Saturday at the U.S. Open and charged with stalking the top-seeded tennis player. Albrecht Stromeyer, 34, was taken into custody after a police officer spotted him watching Williams through a fence at the National Tennis Center, detective Louis Camacho said. Stromeyer, who lives with his wealthy parents in Frankfurt, was charged with two counts of stalking the tennis star, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said. He was arraigned in Queens criminal court Saturday night and was being held on $3,000 bail for a Sept. 5 court date. He faces a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison.Authorities said Stromeyer had been following Williams around the world since June 2001. During that time, Stromeyer allegedly sent e-mails and made numerous phone calls in an effort to contact Williams. Stromeyer has "attempted to repeatedly contact her against her wishes, and acted in a manner that caused Miss Williams to fear for her safety," Brown said. The alleged stalker was previously spotted at tournaments in Germany, Italy, Britain and France. Stromeyer was arrested outside the gates of Wimbledon on July 3 after scuffling with police. According to Camacho, Officer Michael Esposito recognized Stromeyer on Friday afternoon from a photo given to police by Williams' manager. Esposito took the suspect to the U.S. Tennis Association security officer, where Stromeyer's identity was confirmed. He was arrested and charged shortly after midnight. While Stromeyer was in custody Friday, Serena Williams moved into the fourth round of the U.S. Open by easily defeating No. 26 Nathalie Dechy of France 6-1, 6-1. Williams practiced on Saturday morning, but apparently left the grounds before Stromeyer's arrest became public. She was not scheduled to play Saturday. After his arrest in England, Stromeyer told police, "I don't hate [Serena Williams]. I love her. I will never hurt her." During the Italian Open in May, police stopped Stromeyer and ordered him out of the country after receiving word of the suspect's history of allegedly harassing Williams. Two months earlier, Stromeyer walked into an Arizona resort where Williams was playing and asked to see her. When he was turned down, Stromeyer began undressing in front of the desk clerk. He was charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure. Williams' mother, Oracene, has also reported seeing Stromeyer at a Berlin tournament in May and at the French Open in June.
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