Police identified Lewis as the individual behind the alarming messages sent to Clark on the platform X, which allegedly contained explicit and threatening content. According to authorities, one of the messages read, "@CaitlinClark22 been driving around your house 3x a day... but don't call the law just yet, the public is allowed to drive by Gainbridge... aka Caitlin's Fieldhouse." He also mentioned, "I'm getting tickets. I'm sitting behind the bench," raising further concerns about his intentions.
The messages were reportedly sent between December 16 and January 2. Clark, who is anticipated to be the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association rookie of the year, reported these interactions to the police, expressing fears for her safety. She initiated the alert before Lewis's arrival in Indianapolis, even altering her appearance in public due to the unsettling situation. Prosecutors outlined that the messages left Clark feeling "terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened," according to court documents.
Authorities, tracking the IP addresses linked to the messages, located Lewis in a downtown Indianapolis hotel, as declared by Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears. During his interaction with the police, Lewis argued that the messages were merely "an imagination, fantasy type thing and it's a joke," dismissing the gravity of his actions.
In a statement on Monday, prosecutor Mears emphasized the importance of women coming forward in such cases, acknowledging the courage it takes and encouraging others to speak out against threats of sexual violence. The incident echoes the recent case of another man arrested in Oregon for stalking and harassment of another women's basketball star, Paige Bueckers, highlighting an increasing need for vigilance against harassment in sports.
The messages were reportedly sent between December 16 and January 2. Clark, who is anticipated to be the 2024 Women's National Basketball Association rookie of the year, reported these interactions to the police, expressing fears for her safety. She initiated the alert before Lewis's arrival in Indianapolis, even altering her appearance in public due to the unsettling situation. Prosecutors outlined that the messages left Clark feeling "terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened," according to court documents.
Authorities, tracking the IP addresses linked to the messages, located Lewis in a downtown Indianapolis hotel, as declared by Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears. During his interaction with the police, Lewis argued that the messages were merely "an imagination, fantasy type thing and it's a joke," dismissing the gravity of his actions.
In a statement on Monday, prosecutor Mears emphasized the importance of women coming forward in such cases, acknowledging the courage it takes and encouraging others to speak out against threats of sexual violence. The incident echoes the recent case of another man arrested in Oregon for stalking and harassment of another women's basketball star, Paige Bueckers, highlighting an increasing need for vigilance against harassment in sports.
