Branch Breaks for Alleged Stalker

03/29/2007 9:33 AM, E! Online
Joal Ryan

A different kind of showstopper for Michelle Branch.

On Monday, at a Wreckers concert in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Branch paused to call security's attention to an alleged stalker, police and reports said.

"Michelle Branch just said, 'Wait a second. There's a guy in the audience—striped shirt and glasses—can somebody check him out?" concertgoer Cali Haas said in the Sheboygan Press. "It left everyone just so confused, like, is this a joke, part of the show?"

As it turned out, Branch's lines were entirely impromptu, the result of her eagle eye spying a 32-year-old Maryland man against whom she'd previously sought a restraining order.

Dominick B. Giordano was arrested, and cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct, Lt. Dave Schafauser of the Sheboygan Police said Thursday.

Branch's road manager, Joshua Scott, told the Sheboygan Press that Giordano has been "following us everywhere" for years.

In 2004, Branch's camp got an Arkansas court to issue a restraining order against Giordano, reports said. The order has since expired, police said.

Giordano's arrest on Monday was based, in part, Schafauser said quoting the police report, "on the extensive past history involving Mr. Giordano and Ms. Branch." 

Giordano was released from custody Monday night after posting $150 bail. A court date was expected in the next two weeks, Schafauser said.

Once Giordano exited the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, the Sheboygan show went on. Branch even apologized for the disruption, audience-member Haas told the Sheboygan Press.

Reached for comment Thursday, Branch's rep said she had no information on the concert incident.

Branch, 23, is currently on the road as a member of the country-folk duo the Wreckers. The band is scheduled to take the stage Thursday night in St. Charles, Missouri.

Under her own brand name, singer-songwriter Branch has scored hits such as "All You Wanted." She won a 2002 Grammy for teaming with Carlos Santana on "The Game of Love."