Mel Gibson, producer and director of “The Passion of the Christ,” has obtained a restraining order against a man he says stalked him to demand that they pray together, according to court papers.
Zack Sinclair, a 34-year-old homeless man, also has sent a number of letters that Gibson described in a court declaration filed on Sept. 21 as “alarming, harassing and annoying.”
Gibson said Sinclair came to his Malibu home on two consecutive days last month and “demanded to see me, saying that he wanted to pray with me.”
After he was “told to leave and not return,” Sinclair showed up at Gibson’s church the following day and “approached me, interrupted my worship, stood extremely close (approximately six inches) from me and demanded that I pray with him,” Gibson said in the statement.
When Sinclair returned to the actor’s home again the next day, Gibson’s wife called police and had him arrested.
Sinclair was still in jail Friday on charges of disorderly conduct and misdemeanor loitering on private property, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said.
The temporary restraining order prevents Sinclair from approaching Gibson or his family. A hearing on the matter is set for Wednesday.