Who is Joshua Christian? Brooklyn man, 35, arrested for stalking Taylor Swift ‘across multiple states’
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: A Brooklyn man accused of stalking Taylor Swift was arrested and ordered on Saturday, July 2, to stay away from the singer. Joshua Christian allegedly stalkied Swift at her Tribeca home and “across multiple states". He was busted Friday, July 1, and charged with stalking and criminal trespass, the NYPD confirmed.
Police said that the stalker allegedly went to Swift's Franklin Street properties in March and last month. “The defendant has not only repeatedly shown up to Ms Swift’s home here in New York but has traveled to her home in Tennessee as well,” a prosecutor said at Christian’s arraignment Saturday night in Manhattan criminal court.
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The assistant district attorney said that on June 12, Christian allegedly said into the intercom of Swift’s Tribeca Franklin Street, "You’re dead you know. You’re holding her prisoner and I need to set her free." “The people are also investigating an additional incident of stalking and are awaiting video surveillance to confirm the defendant’s identity,” the prosecutor added.
Who is Joshua Christian?
Not much is known about Joshua Christian except that he is a 35-year-old from Crown Heights. He allegedly got into 153 Franklin St. through an unlocked door on March 26, and "unlawfully" remained there, police said. He fled the property after being confronted by security. Swift owns an $18 million townhouse on the property.
Judge Eric Schumacher issued a full order of protection for Christian to stay away from Swift. He set bail in the case at $1. However, Christian was sent to jail without bail for fleeing a reckless driving charge in Florida. In that case, he is due back in court on July 28.
Christian ranted about his Legal Aid lawyer during the proceeding, yelling, "I am a Christian scientist. I don’t desire this individual to represent me. This is the worst miscarriage of justice since the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. I am representing myself.” At one point he turned to the courtroom and said, "Are you all the biggest jokers in history or actually real? Prove you're real. Prove you're real." Christian's lawyer insisted that he requires psychiatric and mental evaluation.
A person who works at the Wing Hang Chinese restaurant near Christian’s home said that he was a regular customer and liked lo mein. “He’s pretty quiet. He doesn’t really talk that much,” Michelle Yang said. "Usually he’s just out and would walk his dog by himself. It’s pretty bizarre because he was pretty normal, just maybe quiet.” However, another man who worked at the Peoples Organic Market and Juice Bar claimed that it seemed like Christian had “mental problems.” The worker, Mo, said, “I ask him a question like if he needs a bag or something and he says ‘I’m over it.’”
This is not the first time Swift has had to face stalking. A man allegedly broke into her Tribeca townhouse and took a nap in 2018. The same year, another man was arrested outside a Beverly Hills home owned by the singer. He was found armed with a knife, rope and ammunition.