Police have arrested a man in Seattle for allegedly stalking Avril Lavigne.
According to the Associated Press, 30-year-old James Speedy was taken into custody in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood and was taken to Lynnwood County jail after police searched his home last Wednesday (April 7). Police in Lynnwood have been investigating the case since Canadian police informed them that harassing letters and emails were being sent to Lavigne last year. The exact content of those letters and emails hasn’t been revealed, but police have told the press that they were creepy enough to freak Lavigne out.
Coincidentally, the same day that Speedy was picked up, Lavigne was playing a free show in a mall outside Seattle as part of her surprise promo tour in support of her upcoming album, Under My Skin.
Speedy was quickly released from jail after he posted the $5,000 bail. Lynnwood police told AP that he doesn’t have a listed phone number and they are unsure if he even has a lawyer.
Despite the obvious fear surrounding Lavigne and her camp, the pop star will continue her surprise promo tour, in which radio stations are informed about her performance only 48 hours before each show. Avril fans in Arizona have just learned that the surprise tour will hit the Fiesta Mall tomorrow (April 13). For the past month, Lavigne has been playing free acoustic sets in malls across North America, including stops in several major Canadian cities. The mall tour is a huge success, with thousands of fans cutting classes to see their favourite pop princess play. After her mall tour, Lavigne is heading to England to play a single show before she begins a full European tour in June.
The first single off her new album is called “Don’t Tell Me” and is likely being played on a million radio stations as you read this. Under My Skin will hit record shelves on May 25.