Bayonne man arrested in Suffolk stalking case, extradition waived

A Suffolk County nurse who said she was stalked for more than three years saw the case move back toward Long Island court action after Michal Pacek, 47, of Bayonne, waived extradition in Jersey City.

Pacek was arrested Wednesday at his home by Jersey City police on outstanding warrants tied to alleged stalking and harassment. He later appeared in Jersey City Municipal Court on Friday and agreed to be returned to Suffolk County, where prosecutors are expected to pursue six outstanding warrants for misdemeanor bail-jumping and criminal contempt charges.

The case has crossed state lines from the start, with alleged conduct stretching from New Jersey to Suffolk and involving repeated threats, unwanted contact and a long trail of messages and deliveries. Court records and prosecutors say the harassment included sexually explicit messages, violent threats and unwanted gifts sent over a three-year period.

Melanie Smith, the nurse identified in the case, said the stalking began after she listed an iPhone for sale on Facebook Marketplace. She said the harassment escalated into thousands of texts and online messages, along with unwanted deliveries that included lingerie, sex toys, condoms and flowers. Smith also said the man repeatedly showed up at her parents’ home and threatened to kill her.

The extradition waiver means Suffolk authorities can now bring Pacek back to Long Island to answer the local warrants, instead of waiting on a longer fight over whether he would be forced to return. The arrest and waiver mark a significant shift for Smith, who has described the case as an ordeal that followed her across platforms, homes and state lines before reaching the courtroom.

Smith’s Facebook post about the case drew nearly 700 comments, underscoring how widely the story resonated beyond the legal filing. For Suffolk stalking victims, the case is a reminder that repeated harassment can build for years before an arrest, and that the path to protection often depends on how quickly complaints are documented, warrants are enforced and prosecutors keep pressure on a suspect who may be outside the county.