Naperville Senior Citizen Has 3 Felony Stalking Charges

NAPERVILLE, IL - A 66-year-old retired Naperville man faces three felony stalking charges in Will County Circuit Court because Thomas E. Dahlstrom cannot move on with his life from the 67-year-old Naperville woman who does not want to date him, according to court records filed at Will County's Courthouse. According to the criminal charges, Dahlstrom's continuous stalking escalated to the point where the Naperville Police Department intervened and made an arrest. Dahlstrom, who lives in the 400 block of Quail Drive, spent three days in the Will County Jail in Joliet at the end of August.

This month, Dahlstrom has retained the private law firm of Phillip R. Nathe, a Naperville attorney who specializes in criminal defense. His lawyer has entered a not-guilty on his client's defense. A pretrial hearing in Will County Courtroom 407 of Judge David Carlson is set for October 20.

Dahlstrom "knowingly and without lawful justification, "placed (the woman's home) on Townsend Circle under surveillance for more than 15 minutes" back on June 14. Then the next day, June 15, he entered her property to leave a message on her car. On August 17, Dahlstrom showed up at her work place to talk with her. This incident caused the woman to fear "immediate or future bodily harm, sexual assault, confinement or restraint," the court records state.

On August 24, the Naperville woman was granted an emergency order of protection.

"He comes to my home in the middle of the night and rings my doorbell at all hours and he runs away when I come to the front door," the protection order reflects. "When I have company over, he rings the doorbell to disturb me. Follows me everywhere I go, even Walgreens. Flashes his car lights in my window at night after I have gone to sleep and then drives by and toots his horn on his car."

Dahlstrom's conduct has not been going on for days or weeks. It's way, way, longer, according to the protection order.

"This has been going on for years not including him placing gifts on my vehicle at work and my front door," court documents reflect. "I do have a 'No Trespassing Sign.' When I have answered the door he wants to come in and 'talk' but instead wants to kiss me, etc.'"

The woman fears harm.

"When I reject him he gets violent and I am afraid he will literally slap me or hurt me because some of the times he has come intoxicated and verbally abusive," she wrote in the emergency protection order. "I am not trying to hurt him monetarily or emotionally as he has done to me. (I) just want this harassment and stalking to literally stop. That is why it took so long for me to go to this length in pursuing a legal remedy."

This month, a Will County judge ordered that the initial $50,000 bond remain in effect for Dahlstrom, who has been forbidden by the court from having any contact with the 67-year-old woman, her house or her place of work.

Booking mugshot via Will County Sheriff's Department