St Louis priest is arrested for stalking after being found hiding outside a female colleague's home
A priest who works at a St Louis school was arrested on Friday after he was found hiding in bushes outside a female colleague's home.
Police in Richmond Heights were called at about 10.15 pm to a home in the 9000 block of Greenridge Drive, where a woman reported a man looking through her windows.
Cops found Michael McCusker, 36, hiding in the bushes, police said. Charging documents allege that he ran from police, but he was later arrested.
Michael McCusker (pictured) charged Monday with second-degree stalking and resisting arrest after he was found hiding in bushes outside a female co-workers home
They later learned that he is a priest and teacher at St Louis Priory School in Creve Coeur, where he also lives, St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
He goes by his religious name, the Reverend John McCusker, according to a post on the school's website.
The woman who lived at the address is also a teacher at St. Louis Priory, police said.
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ShareCourt documents claim McCusker 'has a history of inappropriate and offensive communication toward victim, who has lodged complaints with her employer.'
McCusker was charged Monday with second-degree stalking and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $500.
He is a Benedictine monk of Saint Louis Abbey in Missouri.
McCusker (pictured) is a Benedictine monk of Saint Louis Abbey in Missouri and studied for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
He studied for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. and did his undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame.
He currently teaches Theology at Saint Louis Priory School. Abbot Gregory Mohrman, of St. Louis Abbey, wrote to the school community Sunday to announce the arrest.
A view of Greenridge Drive in Richmond Heights where McCusker was found by police
In a letter obtained by KSDK the school said: 'We are in communication and cooperation with law enforcement and continue to gather facts.
'While we seek more information, our thoughts and prayers go immediately to the faculty member and family who have been impacted.
'Because the safety of our faculty and students remains our highest priority, I can affirm that Father John has been removed from his roles in the school effective immediately, and he is no longer residing on campus.'
The latest arrest comes after another priest was removed from the post last June after 'inappropriate images' were discovered on a laptop computer he used.
A school official said in a letter sent to parents that images were found during a routine review of electronic devices used by school staff.
It remains unclear when the letter about the Rev. Maximilian Toczylowski was sent or when he was removed, though the letter states he was removed 'immediately.'
