ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People in two St. Pete neighborhoods are left with a sense of relief now that a man facing charges for inappropriate contact with two women is off the streets.
Dennis Barahona's latest arrest comes after police say he stalked a woman and tried to break into her home. Her encounters with the 22-year-old man were caught on her doorbell camera and given exclusively to 10 Tampa Bay.
Barahona showed up to the home near 7th Avenue North and 49th Street North for the first time on Oct. 12, but it would not be the last. 10 Tampa Bay agreed to conceal the woman's identity for this story.
"What was this guy thinking?" She said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. "It was scary, like too close for comfort."
The 25-year-old was caught off guard and shocked beyond belief. The woman says she was face to face with a man she didn't know was stalking her.
"It's insane. I feel afraid for when he comes out, but I'm trying to be prepared," she said.
St. Petersburg Police detectives determined Barahona has approached multiple women in a violent or concerning manner in the United Central and Disston Heights neighborhoods since August. This woman was the latest.
"What our investigation determined is that he had taken a liking to her. The day of his arrest, he pulled on her door aggressively in an attempt to get in. When he couldn't get in, he picked up a stone and wandered to the back," said Ken Knight, a spokesperson with the police department.
That encounter on Oct. 20 was different than the one two weeks prior. Video shows Barahona in glasses and a hat holding pink flowers.
"He asked me to marry him. He left and came back about two hours later and then I didn't see him until Friday night, so a few nights ago, which is when he was apprehended," she said.
The night Dennis showed up again, the woman wasn't home but was just pulling into the neighborhood. She immediately called 911 and flagged a nearby neighbor who was walking his dog.
"The girl comes out of her house and says 'Can you come here and help me real quick?' She sounds you know, very distressed. I knew something was up because the week before I saw three cop cars outside her house, but I didn't know what for," Jacques Gregoire said.
He says his dog Indie also realized something was wrong and was on high alert. They both walked around the back and found Barahona on the side of the home. Gregoire can be heard confronting him on camera.
"I'm like 'What the hell are you doing back here?' She's clearly distressed. I got a dog. I don't feel like anybody's gonna mess with me. I told him he was making her uncomfortable and she didn't want him around," Gregoire said.
Meanwhile, dispatch was on the phone and police were on their way. Despite them getting there fast, Barahona still got away.
"He attempted to do a little run and I said, 'No, no, no, no, buddy! You're not. You're not going anywhere. I turned my head to look for police and that was when he ran. I said, 'Indie let's go!' and we took off quick," Gregoire said.
Police tracked the 22-year-old down in an alleyway 10 minutes away and arrested him. The woman was able to make a positive identification at the scene. Barahona is now charged with aggravated stalking and burglary of an unoccupied dwelling.
"His actions are terrifying and I don't know if he's fully aware of that. I just hope he can get the help that he needs, but hopefully, the justice system helps keep him off the streets for as long as possible," the woman said.
St. Pete Police is concerned more people had similar interactions with Barahona. If you or anyone you know has information about this investigation, please contact them at 727-893-7780 or text SPPD + your tip to TIP411.