HARLINGEN -- Police are investigating stalking charges against an official with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations office in Harlingen, law enforcement officials said.
The charges are against Steven Michael Rossello, 29, of San Benito, an intelligence assistant working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's HSI in Harlingen, according to police and a statement issued by Nina Pruneda, DHS ICE spokeswoman.
Rossello was arrested Wednesday in connection with a second suspected stalking incident, Harlingen police Sgt. Dave Osborne said. Rossello was found near the Sierra Apartments, located in the 2900 block of Haine Drive, where he had previously been arrested on suspicion of stalking his ex-girlfriend, Osborne said.
"During the interview with the jail sergeant, it was apparent that Rossello was distraught and may be in need of a mental evaluation," Osborne said, adding that Rossello was taken to the east campus of Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville for assistance.
"He has a detainer, which means we will bring him back to our jail section and he will see a judge and get magistrated, but only after he has been cleared medically," Osborne said.
The woman filed a report on Dec. 14, stating that she was being harassed by Rossello, who had been sending annoying and alarming email messages since June of 2012, police said in a press release.
Rossello was first arrested on Jan. 2 at the Sierra Apartments on criminal trespass, unlawful carrying of a weapon, and two stalking charges, police said.
That investigation found that he had been waiting outside of the victim's apartment for several hours on different occasions over a span of a few weeks, police said.
During the first incident, Rossello was found to be in possession of an H&K .40 caliber handgun "while being involved in criminal activity," a Class A misdemeanor, police said.
Osborne said Rossello now faces two charges of stalking, during one of which he was in possession of the handgun. He said Rossello did have a gun magazine in his possession during the second incident, but officers did not find a weapon. ___
(c)2013 Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas)
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