Chad Michael Busto, Drew Barrymore’s Reported Stalker, Freed After Thursday Night New York Arrest

By Alex Vena
Published Aug. 25, 2023, 3:25 p.m. ET

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Following his temporary detainment on Wednesday (Aug. 23), Chad Michael Busto, the man who attempted to rush the stage to approach Drew Barrymore at a 92nd Street Y event on Tuesday (Aug. 22), was freed this morning after being arrested Thursday night by the Southampton Town Police, per The Daily Mail.

He was reportedly freed after his arraignment on Friday, but is due back in court on Sept. 12. A prosecution attorney also told the outlet that “Busto has a lengthy criminal history.”

This statement seems to be confirmed in a story by the Santa Monica Daily Press, which says that he “was arrested in Santa Monica in 2009” and “had several arrests for disorderly conduct and trespassing in Georgia, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and Wisconsin in recent years.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Busto was reportedly arrested at 11:59 p.m. last night and was charged with a misdemeanor of stalking in the fourth degree. His arrest comes a day after the Southampton police department received a call about Busto going door-to-door in order to track down Barrymore’s home.

Additionally, according to NBC News, the police disclosed in a statement that “it was reported at the time that Busto was riding a bicycle up into private driveways and stating to area residents that he was looking for Drew Barrymore’s residence.”

The press release said that a follow-up investigation “led to facts that substantiated a charge for stalking and a wanted flyer was distributed to neighboring agencies.”

Busto first made headlines after he approached Barrymore and singer and The Sex Lives of College Girls star Reneé Rapp at an event promoting Rapp’s new music. As Busto came toward the stage, Barrymore eagerly acknowledged him, expecting a normal fan interaction.

However, the 43-year-old man from Washington, D.C. said, “You know who I am. I need to see you at some point while you’re in New York,” prompting both Barrymore and Rapp to exit the stage.