Man arrested for stalking several women at Kohl’s store in Fort Myers

Three women band together at a Fort Myers shopping center on Monday to make sure the man who was following them through the store and the parking lot was caught.

A victim was shopping with her young daughter when she noticed someone was following her. Investigators said it was the suspect, James Gadsden, 64, who now faces a charge of Stalking. One shopper WINK News spoke with said she had a similar experience while shopping.

“I went and got the manager, told him,” Melissa Rubbo said. “They immediately threw him out of the store. Then I asked the manager to watch me walk to my car after I cashed out. He was gone, but I just wanted to make sure.”

The victim says Gadsden followed her out of the store and approached her car and started asking questions about the details pertaining to her vehicle. Then, another car with two women inside pulls up right behind her car saying: “Watch out! Gadsden just did the same thing to us.”

Local officers said never to be afraid to contact the authorities if you think someone is following you. They advise you to stay in a public area where other people are around if you find yourself in the situation.

When police arrested Gadsden, they found a notebook in his pocket with multiple names of women and their numbers. The women spoke to police, saying they were also stalked by Gadsden and thought by giving him their information would make him go away.

“Being a woman by yourself, you always have to be vigilant and if you feel unsafe, have somebody walk you to your car, somebody watch, call the police,” Rubbo said. “Don’t… don’t risk it.”