Stalker Has Been ‘Inappropriate' With Women Before: St. Pete Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 22-year-old man was arrested Friday night after trying to force his way into a home near 7th Avenue North and 49th Street North, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department news release.

Dennis Barahona was charged with aggravated stalking and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.

Just before 8 p.m., he was seen trying to open the locked front door at the home of a woman he didn’t know but had previously tried to contact at least twice, police said.

He picked up a large concrete stone and walked into the home’s backyard, where he was confronted by a neighbor. The neighbor called police, and officers found and arrested Barahona a few blocks away.

Barahona was accused of “inappropriate contact” with two other women in recent separate incidents, police said. In one case, he pushed a woman; in the other, he grabbed a woman from behind.

Investigators also learned that he has approached multiple women “in a violent or concerning manner” in the United Central and Disston Heights neighborhoods since August, police said.

Anyone who has had a similar interaction with Barahona or has information about this investigation, is asked to contact St. Petersburg police by calling 727-893-7780 or texting SPPD + the tip to TIP411.