Man charged with aggravated stalking after attempting to break into woman's St. Pete home

A man was arrested in St. Pete and charged with aggravated stalking for trying to break into a woman's home after trying to make contact with her multiple times, according to police.

Dennis Barahona, 22, attempted to force his way into a house near 7th Avenue North and 49th Street North on Friday night. According to St. Pete Police, Barahona was seen trying to open a locked front door at the home of a woman he didn't know.

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He then picked up a large concrete stone and walked to the backyard of a window where he was confronted by a neighbor. The neighbor then called the police who located and arrested Barahona a few blocks away.

Police said he previously attempted to make contact with the homeowner on at least two previous occasions. He has also been charged with inappropriate contact with two other women in separate recent incidents.

In one of those cases, police said he pushed a woman and in another, he grabbed a woman from behind. Detectives determined through investigation that Barahona has approached multiple women in a "violent or concerning" manner in the United Central and Division Heights neighborhoods since August.

Police ask anyone who has or knows anyone who has had a similar interaction with Barahona to contact them at 727-893-7780.

St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg Police DepartmentCrime and Public Safety