A Providence man who police allege has engaged in bizarre harassment of dozens of people over more than four decades is facing multiple charges, and more could be forthcoming.
Dennis Ciaramello, 61, of 68 Silver Lake Ave., was arrested Monday and charged with one count of felony stalking and seven counts of misdemeanor cyberstalking.
According to a statement from Cranston police, the victims of Ciaramello’s alleged behavior – 45 in all, including four juveniles – are both strangers and people known to him. Contact between Ciaramello and some of the victims “was documented as far back as 45 years ago,” police said.
Ciaramello is accused of electronically sending out unwanted and unsolicited photos and videos of himself “dressed as a woman in an outfit similar to that worn by female parochial school students and various pieces of lingerie.” Police say he also “repeatedly sent photos of his fingernails.”
“Ciaramello is alleged to have transmitted communication with an electronic device for the sole purpose of harassing his victims. These actions put some victims in a state of fear of bodily injury,” the statement reads. “Ciaramello harassed his victims through the use of voice communication, text, photo, and video messaging.”
Police say Ciaramello repeatedly changed phone numbers and removed all identifying information from his messages to avoid detection. It is believed he obtained numbers for some of the victims through business cards and his work as a self-employed house painter, which allowed him access to contact lists in customers’ homes.
According to police, the arrest comes after a “lengthy investigation” by Cranston’s Special Victims Unit. Rhode Island State Police and departments in Johnston, Warwick, Providence, Coventry, and Richmond took part in the probe, and additional charges are said to be under consideration in those jurisdictions.
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