David Crowe: NYC man accused of stalking Taylor Swift deemed mentally 'unfit' for trial, attorney pleads for his release from jail

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: David Crowe, a 33-year-old law student from Seattle, who stands accused of stalking pop icon Taylor Swift, has been declared mentally unfit for trial, according to his attorney.

The claim was made on Wednesday as the attorney advocated for Crowe's release from Rikers Island jail.

The 'Karma' singer has just clinched a record-setting fourth Album of the Year award at the 2024 Grammy Awards show on Sunday for her album 'Midnights'.

Taylor Swift's NYC stalker David Crowe deemed mentally 'unfit' for trial

Crowe was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan criminal court on Wednesday, February 7 for a hearing concerning his repeated loitering outside Swift's New York apartment.

However, the findings of a recent court-ordered mental health evaluation resulted in him remaining at Rikers, his attorney disclosed.

At least two psychiatrists have evaluated Crowe and determined that he is "not fit to proceed not just on the evaluation, but also on the review of his criminal record," stated attorney Katherine LeGeros Bajuk.

However, instead of being transferred to a mental health facility, Crowe will remain incarcerated at least until Friday, when the next hearing is scheduled.

What did Taylor Swift's NYC stalker's attorney say?

Bajuk mentioned that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has not consented to the transfer, despite having received an 11-page report detailing the evaluation early the previous day.

"In some cases we have clients who sit in jail for months and months and months after they've been found not fit," according to the lawyer, per New York Post. 

"It's just a shame," she stated and added, "The doctors, director of the clinic and psychiatrist of the clinic, deemed that he is not fit to proceed based on meeting with him."

David Crowe is currently detained at Rikers Island jail

A judge ordered an evaluation of Crowe during his most recent hearing, following his arrest for loitering outside Swift's Tribeca apartment, a clear violation of a court order dated January 22.

This marked the third time in that week alone that he was apprehended on her street, having been allegedly spotted surveilling the pop singer's apartment on 30 separate occasions since November.

Crowe's most recent arrest occurred when he was filmed sifting through a dumpster outside Swift's apartment, merely an hour after being discharged from court where he had been instructed to keep his distance.

Swift's security team alerted the local police about his return to the vicinity.

Currently, Crowe is detained at Rikers, held on a $100,000 bail for contempt, following his deliberate breach of the court order.

Initially, Crowe was charged with fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor, and two counts of harassment.

David Crowe's news sparked mixed reactions online

The internet has reacted with various opinions as Taylor Swift's NYC stalker was deemed mentally 'unfit' for trial. 

A user on Facebook claimed, "NYC IS A SLIMEBALL CITY. THIS GUY WAS STALKING SWIFTY CONDO AND GARAGE DUMPSTER BY HER CONDO IN NYC AND HE IS IN RIKERS WITH A 100 THOUSAND DOLLAR BAIL BUT ILLEGALS BEAT THE SH IT OUT OF POLICE OFFICERS GET RELEASED IMMEDIATELY AND THEN MAYOR ADAMS GIVES ALL ILLEGALS A 5 THOUSAND GIFT CARD. WTF."

A person took to X and remarked, "Don’t be famous. (I try my best)."

"I am thinking about buying and flying him out for the Super Bowl," added another.

One user wrote, "Put him down."

Another opined, "This clown. He stalking a chicken with no attractions."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.