Former Ranlo officer charged for second time with stalking woman

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. — Authorities have charged former Ranlo Reserve Officer Dell Garren for a second time – this time with a felony.

Garren is a retired Cherryville police officer. He had just been sworn in as a reserve officer with the Ranlo Police Department when he was hit with a misdemeanor stalking charge in October.

Garren, who had a previous relationship with the victim, was captured on video walking around the woman’s home at night and looking into her car after she repeatedly told him not to return. He was also accused of following the woman in her car and making several unwanted phone calls, according to arrest warrants.

When the allegations came to light, Garren resigned from the RPD.

This week, the same woman went back to police.

“Some other incidents of this magnitude had been occurring again,” Maj. Dan Renn, with the Cherryville Police Department, told Channel 9′s Ken Lemon.

The woman, who wasn’t identified, said she had pictures and video evidence showing he stalked her almost daily. She said he even went on Instagram Messenger to call her.

And prosecutors said there’s more.

“Some examples including hiding in the woods behind her house,” prosecutor Kristen Northrup said in court Thursday afternoon. “Behavior is escalating your honor.”

Prosecutors said Garren not only stalked the woman, but also the man she’s currently dating. Garren, however, told the judge he was the stalking victim.

“She’s saying she is in a relationship now, he’s the one following me,” Garren said.

Detectives from the Cherryville Police Department moved quickly to charge him again.

“You are talking about people’s safety. You are talking about people’s lives,” Renn said.

The judge set Garren’s bond at $250,000. If he makes bond, the former officer will have to wear an ankle monitor.

He’s facing a Class H felony and has no prior charges, which means he probably won’t go to prison if he’s found guilty, but he will never work in law enforcement again.

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