PARK SLOPE, NY — A Brooklyn community board leader who was accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend will resign this month, he announced on Friday.
Craig Hammerman, who has held the top spot at Community Board 6 for years, was arrested twice in April for stalking an ex-girlfriend, police said at the time. Prosecutors said in April that Hammerman had used his ex-girlfriend's Uber account to follow her to a Bed-Stuy hotel. Hammerman later followed the same girlfriend into a Park Slope bar and sat next to her, violating a restraining order, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint. Hammerman has denied his ex-girlfriend's claims.
Last week, Hammerman's lawyer said the charges would likely be dropped. Prosecutors declined to comment at the time on whether they would pursue the case. Hammerman's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch on Friday evening. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)
The embattled community board manager announced in an email on Friday that he would resign, effective Oct. 20. He served on the local advisory board that covers Park Slope, Red Hook, Cobble Hill, Gowanus and Carroll Gardens.
“I took an extended medical leave four-and-a-half months ago because my personal circumstances had become a distraction,” Hammerman wrote. “Giving this Community Board my best is something I have been committed to throughout my tenure. So when something got in the way of that, I had to take action. My mantra has always been to do what is in the best interest of the Community Board. Right now, I believe what would be in the best interest of the Community Board, and myself, is for me to step down as District Manager.”
Hammerman has been on a lengthy leave of absence since he was arrested.
Hammerman did not say what he would do after leaving the community board, except to note that he was “tremendously excited about having the freedom to pursue other options at this time.”
This post has been updated with additional information.
Image credit: Patch file photo
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Park Slope, NY Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.