Jamie Foxx might not care too much for her (I know, I know - he apologized), but 53-year-old Mark McLeod believes he and Miley Cyrus are destined to be together.
On July 29, 2009, TMZ reported McLeod was arrested for disorderly conduct and obstruction on June 23 in Tybee Island, GA (the area’s local news source, The Coastal Source, states McLeod was actually arrested on June 22 and that the “disorderly conduct” included McLeod getting too close to the set of the celeb’s new movie, The Last Song, and making inappropriate comments to young female fans who were also present) and apparently the arrest gave McLeod just the right audience for a string of disturbing claims about his devotion to Cyrus – the police.
(You can read about McLeod’s statements about Cyrus, and the things he’s sent her, at both TMZ and The Coastal Source.)
TMZ went on to report that Disney had contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to notify them of the situation but that, as of right now, the LAPD are only aware of the situation but are not actively investigating it. The LAPD did, however, let the Tybee Island Police know that McLeod has had stalking complaints in the past, and Tybee Island Police Chief Jimmy Price stated they “will arrest him again” if his “obsession” gets out of hand.
McLeod’s two charges weren’t felonies and he is free on a $1,400 bond. His hearing is set for September 1, 2009.
It doesn’t seem that Cyrus herself has pressed any charges so, coupled with the two non-felony charges, the fact that he’s not in custody anymore makes sense on the surface. Personally, I do think his self-claimed behavior should be viewed as warning signs that this man could very well act out regarding his devotion to Cyrus with more serious actions in the future, but, no one can predict the future and you can’t arrest someone based on what you think he or she might do.
Still, despite no current stalking charges, all eyes are on McLeod now.
Will that be enough to make him think twice about his behavior? To prompt him to get help? Prompt someone else to encourage him to seek help? Or, will this be one of those cases when everyone says, “Told you so…”?
Let’s hope for the former.
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I read this update today:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090805/entertainment/us_miley_cyrus_stalking
Wonder if the courts will ever effectively deal with erotomania (or de Clérambault’s syndrome, which this case clearly is from the descriptions)? Restraining orders, fines and threats of punishment simply don’t work.
I hope Miley’s personal security team is very tight, for her sake.
@ Sandra - Ah! Thanks for the link. If I’d just held off one day, this would’ve been a completely different post then, huh? Haha.
Also thanks for the erotomania call - I definitely agree, both that this is what it sounds like and that the courts don’t seem to effectively deal with it. The man got a bond (I don’t think the article mentioned whether or not he made bond, but, nonetheless, he got one) with the conditions that he has to stay away from Miley. Hmm. Weren’t those the conditions before? Yep, and they didn’t work then, so why does the judge think they’ll work now? In my very unprofessional opinion, this man clearly has a problem and he needs help. I don’t know what the legal policies are regarding ordering someone to receive an evaluation or treatment before they have a hearing/conviction, but at this point, it seems like something other than “You can go ‘free’ for $50,000 and the promise you’ll stay away from her” is in order.
It’s an interesting legal situation, since although (we’ll presume) the man has a mental illness it’s not the type that fits the “insanity plea” that would allow the court send him to a forensic facility for treatment.
Ronald Reagan was shot by a man suffering erotomania, he was obsessed with Jodie Foster, remember that? He did end up in a forensic hospital but the case led to some revised statutes that made it more difficult for that to happen.
Oh, and I have a sad feeling you’ll be updating this story again…
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