An Iowa man who told police that he traveled to Westerly, Rhode Island, because he was hoping to visit with Taylor Swift was arrested near the singer’s home carrying a backpack containing more than 30 lock picks and several other burglary tools.

David Page Liddle, 32, was charged Friday with possession of burglary tools and possession of a prohibited weapon other than a firearm. Swift was not at the house at the time. Liddle was arrested after residents reported seeing someone suspicious at a boatyard near Swift’s home. Officers found Liddle carrying a backpack with an aluminum baseball bat sticking out of it and searched his bag. They discovered more than 30 different lock picks, screwdrivers, a flashlight, several pairs of rubber gloves, a crowbar and other items in the backpack, police said.

Westerly Police Chief Shawn Lacey says Liddle told officers he was looking to “catch up” with Swift because he knew her personally and she had agreed to help his singing career. He was arrested, remanded into custody, ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation, and was issued a “no-contact order,” prohibiting from attempting to communicate with Taylor or traveling to any of her homes.

Lacey said, “He has a history – security guards at the home told us that he was already on a watch list because there were concerns he could pose a threat. It is our understanding that he may have visited other properties belonging to Taylor Swift in the past.”

https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/police-courts/iowa-man-hoping-to-visit-taylor-swift-charged-after-police/article_fcf30afe-acc8-11e9-9416-73083d747757.html