Detective Investigating Man Jailed For Allegedly Stalking Short North Resident

A man was behind bars on Thursday after being accused of stalking a woman near the Short North and Victorian Village.  

Columbus police and the director of the city’s stalking unit are asking any other potential victims to come forward.

Odin Stepp was arrested and charged with menacing by stalking and criminal damaging, 10TV’s Danielle Elias reported.

Stepp, 43, who authorities said was homeless, is accused of peeping in a woman’s window.

“He also left pulled-up flowers and left them up her stairs with (a) ripped out Victoria’s Secret catalogue and laid that there as well,” said Annie Murray of the Columbus Violence and Stalking Unit Director.

A neighbor told police that Stepp also allegedly peered into other windows along Neil Avenue.

Murray said that her unit used grant money to hire a second stalking investigator to handle similar cases, Elias reported.

“The victim originally feared that he was trying to get into her house and there would be additional charges with that if that were to be proven,” Murray said.

Murray said that Stepp would walk from Goodale Street north on Neil Avenue to campus in the mornings,  and then down High Street to Goodale Street again in the evenings. During the day, Stepp hung out at the Starbucks, located at 14th and High streets.

Stepp is scheduled to appear in court next month.


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