A pilot has been charged with threatening a young girl after years of stalking her mother in a small town in New York. Cassie Wilusz, a cafe owner, has been the victim of relentless stalking by Micheal Arnold for over four years. The pilot would fly his plane low over her home multiple times a week, causing fear and distress for Wilusz and her family. Despite her complaints to the authorities, nothing was done until now.
Wilusz’s husband was battling colon cancer during this time, adding to the stress and fear for the family. They lived in constant fear that Arnold would fly into their home or cause harm. Wilusz expressed her concerns, stating, “I didn’t know what he was capable of. I thought, what if he shoots me.”
Her complaints to the Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Police were ignored, leaving her feeling helpless. Arnold has been arrested multiple times for his actions, but it did not deter him from continuing to stalk Wilusz.
Recently, Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputy Nikki Voegler arrested Arnold on criminal contempt charges after he threatened Wilusz’s daughter on Facebook. He used a fictitious account to send threatening messages, stating that her daughter would be the next target. He also posted a disturbing message on her husband’s obituary page.
This arrest came just days after Arnold was apprehended by the Bennington police for violating an order of protection by flying over Wilusz’s home. The FBI had notified the police department and was waiting for him at the airport.
Arnold pleaded not guilty to the charges in court and promptly posted bail. The stalking began in November 2019 when Arnold, a retired Merchant Marine, was a regular customer at Wilusz’s cafe. After she rejected his advances and blocked him on social media, he became obsessed and began stalking her.
He would fly over her home, take photos of her and her family, and post them on social media. He would also follow her and lurk near her property. Wilusz received an anonymous package with photos of her and her family, adding to her distress.
In November 2022, Arnold dropped tomatoes on her and her neighbors’ properties using his plane. Authorities finally caught him at the Saratoga County Airport, where they found dozens of photos of Wilusz and her family on his cellphone.
Throughout this ordeal, Wilusz’s husband was battling cancer, and she felt helpless to protect her family. The police did not take her complaints seriously, and she had to live in constant fear. Her husband passed away, and the day after his death, Arnold flew over her home again.
Wilusz decided to speak out about her experience, hoping for justice and an end to the stalking. With the help of Deputy Voegler and the FBI, she remains hopeful that this nightmare will finally come to an end.
The pilot, Micheal Arnold, has not yet made a statement regarding the charges. The case continues to unfold, and Wilusz and her daughter seek justice for the years of torment they endured.
Rebecca Rosenberg, a veteran journalist with a focus on crime and criminal justice, contributed to this report.
