Ryan Seacrest Restrains Alleged Stalker
The streets—primarily those around his office—are once again safe for Ryan Seacrest.
A judge has granted the E! News anchor a permanent restraining order against Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr., the knife-wielding Seacrest obsessive who bum-rushed his radio studio last month.
The much-needed order prevents the 25-year-old Army-shaming Uzomah from coming within 100 yards of Seacrest, his home, his car, and all of his ever-increasing places of business for the next three years. He is also to refrain from having any direct or indirect contact with the pervasive personality.
As it is, it's the second such order to be placed against the man on behalf of our fearless leader: In the immediate aftermath of the would-be Oct. 30 meeting, Seacrest obtained a temporary restraining order against Uzomah.
Uzomah, who pleaded not guilty to felony stalking, remains in custody on $150,000 bail. If convicted on all three counts, he faces up to four years in prison.
________
Check out who else has gone from big time to big house with a look through our Court Appearances gallery.
Week in Review: Rob, Kristen & Taylor Go Global; Rihanna, Kate Gosselin & Stripper Talk It Out
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; ABC/ Ida Mae Astute; James Devaney/Getty Images; John Shearer/Getty Images
It was ladies' week in Hollywood (and related environs) as real stars like Rihanna and Mariah Carey opened up on TV about serious, emotional issues; celebish types like Kate Gosselin rehashed stories we already know, but with more tears; and nonentity (in Hollywood and related environs) Nicole Forrester talked about having a one-night stand with Fergie's man.
Hey, to each her own.
Read on for your complete week in review...
Chelsea Handler's Frank Talk about Security
You heard about the drama, now meet the hero.
When a knife-wielding man came into the E! building looking for Ryan Seacrest, our crack security guard Frank sprang into action and got the situation under control.
And Chelsea Handler wants to recognize his bravery and smarts with some gifts and an intimate interview she chooses to do in her robe. Don't miss it.
(And hey, Frank? Thanks.)
_________
Don't miss Chelsea Lately, weeknights at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
Breaking News
Ryan Seacrest's E! Invader: I'm Not Guilty!
For the time being, Ryan Seacrest's alleged stalker will remain just that: alleged.
Chidi Uzomah Jr. pleaded not guilty this morning to one count of felony stalking and two misdemeanor counts of violating a court order to maintain a Seacrest-free perimeter in the wake of last Friday's surprise stop-by at E! HQ.
Uzomah did not speak during the arraignment, leaving his public defender to enter the plea. He's due to reappear for his preliminary hearing on Nov. 16.
In the meantime, however, Seacrest's attorney Blair Berk came through on her promise to get a "much more comprehensive" criminal protective order against Uzomah.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Donald Kennedy ordered the 25-year-old Army reservist to surrender all firearms within 24 hours of his release (which shows no signs of coming soon); and, effective immediately, he is not to harass, contact or otherwise come within 500 yards of Seacrest or his places of employment for the next three years.
Uzomah has not yet posted his $150,000 bail and remains in police custody. As a result, he appeared in court behind a protective clear glass barrier.
The 25-year-old Army reservist (as expected, Uncle Sam is not exactly thrilled with that affiliation) has been on probation since his switchblade-wielding attack on one of Seacrest's security guards last month. He pleaded guilty to assault, battery and possession of said weapon in the incident.
If convicted on all three new counts, he could face up to four years in prison.
________
Get caught up on Ryan's scary saga.
Breaking News
Stalking Charges Filed Against Ryan Seacrest's E! Invader
Don't mess with the Seacrest.
That's the Los Angeles District Attorney's message to Chidi Uzomah Jr., who is now facing a felony stalking charge for last week's drop-in at E! HQ for a unwanted meet-and-great with Ryan Seacrest.
The 25-year-old Uzomah is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on the stalking count, as well as two misdemeanors for disobeying a court order to stay away from Seacrest, according to Deputy District Attorney Wendy Segall with the Stalking and Threat Assessment Team.
Uzomah pleaded guilty in September to attacking Seacrest's securty guard at a charity event in Orange, Calif., and was ordered to keep his distance from the American Idol host.
The hits could keep on coming. Orange County prosecutors are trying to determine if he's in violation of his probation from the earlier incident by turning up at a radio station looking for Seacrest on Oct. 2 and then, on Friday, walking into the E! building armed with a knife.
If convicted of the three new counts, Uzomah could face up to four years in state prison.
Army Apologizes for Armed Seacrest Obsessive
Really, the Army sloganeers should have been a bit clearer. Be all that you can be, sure. Just as long as that doesn't entail obsessively traipsing after one of television's biggest talents.
Fresh off the news that Ryan Seacrest's knife-wielding alleged stalker Chidi Uzomah Jr. is, in fact, a current member of the U.S. Army Reserve, a spokesman has offered an apology to the E! News host for behavior most unbecoming a would-be soldier.
"It is disappointing to have a soldier act in that form or fashion, however we will allow the local police to do their initial investigation and we will chime in afterwards," Lt. Col. Nathan Banks told E! News.
Banks added that Uzomah is a member of the Civil Affairs Unit, "who goes into places like Afghanistan and Iraq"—and, uh, Los Angeles radio studios?—"and bring stability into the city, brings normalcy back."
Pretty soon, however, Uzomah's only affiliation may be as an army of one. Though right now he seems to have plenty of company...a whole cell's worth, to be precise.
Breaking News
E! Invader Facing Felony Stalking Charge; Ryan Secures Restraining Order
Ryan Seacrest is wasting no time shoring up his defenses.
The TV and radio host has secured a temporary restraining order against the man who was arrested in the Comcast Entertainment Group lobby this morning after saying he had business with Seacrest.
Chidi Uzomah, who is being held on suspicion of felony stalking, must stay at least 100 yards away from Seacrest's home, car and place of business.
The suspect will likely remain in custody over the weekend. Seacrest's legal camp acted quickly so that Uzomah could be served with the TRO while being interrogated by LAPD Threat Management officers.
Exclusive
Ryan Seacrest on Stalker Scare: "An Interesting Day Here at E!"
Ryan Seacrest wants the world to know that he's doing find after this morning's scary visit from an obsessive, weapon-wielding fan.
"An interesting day here at E!" Seacrest says of his headline-making (and delivering) day. "My sincerest thanks to the LAPD, who helped us out here at the building today."
As for unwanted guest Chidi Uzomah, the 200-pound, 6-foot-four-inch man apparently just doesn't get the hint. He was arrested last month for brandishing a knife and bumrushing Seacrest's security guard at a charity event at a children's hospital in Orange, Calif.
And despite pleading guilty to two misdemeanors and sentenced to three years' probation for that dust-up, Uzomah still sought face time with Seacrest.
Uzomah turned up in vain at KIIS-FM's Burbank offices looking for the host (whose radio studio, as Uzomah clearly figured out, is actually located at E!'s HQ in Los Angeles).
"He asked somebody where Ryan was," a source said. "They said he didn't work here, he works at E! That was a few weeks ago."
Between that drop-in and today's incident, Uzomah may be facing jail time for a probation violation.
Breaking News
Knife-Wielding Ryan Seacrest Seeker Busted—at E!
Debuting new music, hosting a radio show, manning the E! airwaves and outwitting an alleged stalker are all in a day's work for Ryan Seacrest.
An armed man was caught outside Seacrest HQ in the E! campus just after 10 a.m., and was quickly handcuffed and carted away.
While the man's identity has not yet been confirmed, he matches the description of Joel McHale Chidi Uzomah, who was sentenced to 15 days in jail and three years' probation after attacking an apparently member of Seacrest's security detail outside a charity event last month.
The man was carrying a knife at the time of his arrest this morning.
Stay safe, Ryan!
________
Catch up on what else has been happening with the host-of-all-trades.
Glambert Debuts New Single: Are You Entertained?
Just in time for Halloween, the Glampire himself has loosed upon the ever-critical Interwebs the first single/title track from his debut album.
Described by Adam Lambert as "dance music with a glam-rock shuffle beat," "For Your Entertainment" premeired on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show this morning and is currently streaming on Lambert's official site.
While the cut may not show off the American Idol runner-up's pipes as much as his reality stint did, but it more than defined his style.
And ferocity...
Exclusive
E! Security: How We Tricked Seacrest's Alleged Stalker
Us E! Onliners are happy to know that the security guards downstairs are on their toes.
Guard Oscar Serrano tells E! News that an officer recognized the big-and-tall man apprehended earlier today in our lobby trying to get to Ryan Seacrest from a watch-list photo, and they immediately called the cops.
"He's about 6'4", 200 pounds," Serrano said. "One of the officers called LAPD and I was monitoring the suspect."
They then tricked suspect Chidi Uzomah into sticking around by telling him Seacrest was on his way out to meet him.
Well, the E! News anchor, who was in his KIIS-FM studio at the time, may have been dressed as a CHiPs officer for Halloween, but he wasn't coming out.
Stars All a-Twitter That This Is It Is It!
She may be 77-years-old, but Elizabeth Taylor is nothing if not a trendsetter.
Michael Jackson's close friend was the first to Twitter her review of the star's final performance, This Is It, in 19 rounds of 140 characters or less, but, after last night's premiere, she certainly wasn't the last.
And she wasn't the only idol loving the film either.
"I'm sitting in the Nokia Theater in awe of the This Is It movie!," wrote Paula Abdul. "So many emotions are coming up for me I can't believe He's Gone BRILLIANT."
"MJ movie is powerful," Ryan Seacrest said. "The singing…the dancing!! He was a perfectionist…and very funny."
Dancing With the Stars hottie Julianne Hough felt the message as well.
"MJ movie was amazing so inspiring and motivating!!! Let's make this world a better place," she encouraged.
Like Liz, one viewer thought the film was ripe for awards, while several Glee-ful stars gave their takes…





