Police: York-area stalker pretended to be a police officer
A West Manchester Township man who was allegedly stalking his ex-girlfriend is now accused of trying to break into her home, then lying to responding officers that's he's a policeman.
Wayne Charles Cook, 39, of 1663 Westgate Drive, Apt. 101, is free on $50,000 bail, charged with criminal trespass, stalking with intent to cause emotional distress, making terroristic threats, impersonating a public servant, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.
His bail conditions forbid him from having any contact with his ex-girlfriend, according to court records.
Northern York County Regional Police said they were called to the Manchester Township home of Cook's former girlfriend about 7:30 a.m. Sunday after the ex called 911 to report Cook was banging on her door and yelling her name.
The woman locked herself in her bathroom when her burglar alarm sounded because she thought Cook had broken in, according to charging documents. He didn't actually get inside but did set off the alarm, police said.
ID'd self as cop: Cook fled the woman's home before officers arrived, but a Northern Regional officer spotted Cook in his black BMW sedan and stopped him on Greenbriar Road near Hepplewhite Drive, police said.
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"Cook identified himself as a former police officer in Washington, D.C.," documents state. "A badge was found in his wallet that read 'Special Police.' Cook would later tell (a sergeant) that he is an active police officer."
Cook is not a police officer, according to Northern Regional Police.
His ex-girlfriend told officers that Cook has been warned multiple times over the phone, in emails and in text messages not to come to her home, documents state.
After breaking up with Cook in early April, the woman spotted him running through her yard during a thunderstorm on May 4, according to charging documents. She said he also showed up at her home May 9 and appeared to be intoxicated, at which point she told him she would call police if he returned, documents state.
Hospital incident: When the woman learned Thursday that Cook was in the hospital, she agreed to pick up Cook's key from a hospital nurse so she could feed his dog, according to documents, but changed her mind after getting to the hospital and being told Cook would only hand over the key if he saw her in person.
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She instead called police to let them know about Cook's dog, documents state.
On Friday, she received a voicemail message from Cook in which he stated she would "be dealt with for alerting the police about the dog," according to charging documents.
After being arrested, Cook admitted he wasn't invited to the woman's home, never lived there and has no other ties there, police said.
Northern Regional Police continue to investigate. Anyone with information about the situation is asked to call them at (717) 292-3647, or leave a tip online at nycrpd.org.
— Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com. or on Twitter at @LizScolforoYD.