Warrant: Man stalked, stole from, threatened to release lewd pictures of Stamford woman

STAMFORD — A 48-year-old New York man terrorized an ex-girlfriend over a month-long period in which he stalked, threatened and stole from her, according to an arrest warrant.

Darnell Hodges, 48, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested Friday on charges of first-degree stalking, second-degree stalking, electronic stalking, first-degree threatening, two counts of second-degree harassment, identity theft, third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny and risk of injury to a child.

Police began investigating Hodges in late December after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s Stamford apartment wearing a black ski mask and made off with her cellphone and other items, the arrest warrant said.

The victim told police she was exiting her apartment when she saw Hodges, lying on the floor outside her apartment in a black ski mask, the warrant said. Hodges allegedly forced his way into her apartment and demanded she “give him all the gifts which he had bought” while they were together, the warrant said.

The warrant said Hodges fled the apartment when the victim managed to contact 911 through her Apple watch.

Days later, though, Hodges allegedly struck again.

The second time, he smashed in the victim’s car window and stole a wallet containing her debit and credit cards, the warrant claims. Using the stolen debit card, Hodges withdrew $1,000 from the victim’s account, according to the warrant.

The warrant says Hodges then tried to extort the victim over text messages in which he posed as the victim’s exhusband. He claimed he would return the stolen $1,000 in exchange for “all the items which this party had given to her,” the warrant said.

Hodges also sent a text message to the victim threatening to “post nude photos of her and videos to Instagram” if she didn’t stop “‘bashing’ him and their relationship” on Instagram, the warrant said. In later texts, Hodges also threatened to “throw acid on (the) victim’s face” as she left for work, adding that she would “shed blood,” according to the warrant.

The victim later told police that “she believes Hodges would hurt her” and she was afraid for life, the warrant said.

At other points throughout January, the victim reported observing a man “dressed in all black hiding behind a pillar” in the underground garage of her Stamford apartment buliding. In one such incident, the victim told police she was accompanied by her juvenile daughter.

Hodges was eventually captured by police on Jan. 31 when they responded to reports of the victim’s car being vandalized again.

When approached by police, Hodges initially lied about his identity, the warrant said. However, officers familiar with the case were able to identify him based on a photograph circulated through the department.

Police also seized Hodges’ vehicle, in which they found ski masks and money with serial numbers matching the pictures sent to the victim.

Investigators later matched the clothing found in Hodges’ car to the ones seen in surveillance footage taken from the Bank of America ATM he used to withdraw money from the victims’ account.

The 48-year-old is being held on $202,000 bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on May 20.