February 14, 2023
By News Director Jared Atha
An Elk City man was arrested earlier this month after allegedly stalking a juvenile 16-year-old female.
According to court records, 52-year-old Thomas Jared Craft received the felony charge on February 8 in Beckham County District Court after, on multiple occasions, allegedly followed the teen in his van and on one occasion tried to gain entry into her home.
A probable cause affidavit shows that the first incident occurred on November 17, 2022 when the victim said the defendant attempted to enter her residence. She would tell police that she also observed four to five male subjects outside the home who were looking in the window and also attempted to open the door.
The teen was able to get a description of the suspect’s vehicle, and reported the incident to her parents who would later find the van and get it’s tag number.
Later Police were able to identify the owner of the vehicle as being Craft.
The affidavit said that another incident occurred on January 17 when the victim said that she noticed the suspect vehicle follow her through city streets but she was successful in losing the vehicle.
A third incident occurred on February 4 when the court document stated that once again the vehicle attempted to follow the victim. Once again the teen was able to lose the defendant.
The next day police were able to locate and arrest Craft on a complaint of stalking and was booked into the Elk City Jail.
Bond was initially denied until his first court appearance.
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