Branch Spots Accused Stalker At Concert

A Maryland man accused of stalking Michelle Branch was arrested at her concert in Sheboygan this week after she spotted him in the crowd.

Branch, who was onstage, asked security personnel to approach him, witnesses said.

"Michelle Branch just said, 'Wait a second. There's a guy in the audience — striped shirt and glasses — can somebody check him out?' " said Cali Haas, 20, of Sheboygan, who was in the crowd. "It left everyone just so confused, like, 'Is this a joke, part of the show?' "

Dominick Giordano, 32, was cited for disorderly conduct after employees at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts stopped him as he tried to run away, police said.

Branch apologized to the crowd and played her final song, Haas said.

Authorities said Giordano had been following Branch to concerts around the country since 2003 and regularly sends her letters and videos. A police report from Monday's incident said Giordano had previously managed to sneak backstage at concerts and into post-concert parties, and had lunged at Branch during an autograph signing.

"He used to get his way into meet-and-greets and private events somehow and would try to approach her and touch her and just really inappropriate stuff," said Branch's road manager, Joshua Scott.

A restraining order after Giordano was arrested in Arkansas in 2004 has now expired, Scott said.

Branch's string of pop hits include the Grammy-winning "The Game of Love" with Carlos Santana. She is now singing country music and is touring with Jessica Harp and the band The Wreckers.

The police report said Branch, 23, described herself as frightened by the situation, saying she was particularly concerned because her 19-month-old daughter was at Monday's concert.

"He's been to her last several shows, but it caught her completely off-guard that he was in Sheboygan," said Lt. Jeff Johnston of the Sheboygan Police.