During Traffic Stop, Johnson's Alleged Stalker Said He'll 'Get Her to Marry' Him

Shawn Johnson's alleged stalker explained mission to cop 5 days before arrest.

ByABC News
March 26, 2009, 4:59 PM

April 2, 2009— -- Five days before Robert O'Ryan was arrested on charges of stalking Olympic gymnast and "Dancing With the Stars" contestant Shawn Johnson, he told an Alabama police officer of his intention to try and "get her [Johnson] to marry" him.

O'Ryan was pulled over on his way to California March 19.

"I know if sounds a little bit crazy, but my, uh, intuition tells me that we're gonna have a beautiful relationship together," O'Ryan told the policeman.

O'Ryan is shown on a just-released police car dash cam video outside of his car speaking to a policeman who pulled him over during a traffic stop.

During the 29-minute stop, O'Ryan mentioned Johnson at least three times.

Click here to watch the dash cam video.

When the policeman asked O'Ryan where he was headed, O'Ryan said "California" and identified Johnson as "an Olympic gymnast. ... She's on TV now."

"I'm meeting her there and, uh, I'm going to try to get her to marry me," he said.

Johnson filed a restraining order against O'Ryan shortly after his arrest outside the "Dancing" studio March 24.

Click here to read the felony complaint against O'Ryan.

The Alabama policeman issued O'Ryan two tickets, one for not having insurance and the other for an expired license plate.

When O'Ryan was arrested five days later, police found a shotgun and Colt .45 handgun -- both loaded -- along with duct tape, love letters and Johnson memorabilia.

It's not clear whether O'Ryan had the guns in his car when he was pulled over in Alabama.

O'Ryan pleaded not guilty to charges concerning stalking Johnson.

O'Ryan was a former Olympic hopeful before an injury caused extreme depression, a friend told ABC News.

Police believe the 34-year-old drove cross country from his home at the Osprey RV Park in Yulee, Fla., to Los Angeles to see Johnson. O'Ryan reportedly lived in the RV park for less than a year and was considered a "loner" to neighbors.

"He didn't seem to associate with too many people," neighbor Dennis Cronin told ABC News' Jacksonville affiliate WJXX.

"He was just weird," another neighbor, Lorynn Thomas, said.

It's a different picture than a friend of O'Ryan's painted of the University of Florida graduate.

O'Ryan graduated with a degree in engineering and even tried out for the Olympic rowing team but hurt his back and became extremely depressed, the friend said.

Larry Robinson, who co-operates the RV park, acknowledged O'Ryan's back injury and said the man had trouble walking but turned down all offers to help.

"He was real independent," Robinson told The Florida Times-Union. "I was going to take his mail to him ... but he said, 'No. I don't want no help.'"

O'Ryan has no criminal record in Florida.

O'Ryan remains in custody on $220,000 bail, after appearing in Los Angeles Superior Court Wednesday to face a felony charge of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Meanwhile, Johnson is walking around with a new bodyguard.

According to the Web site TMZ, the Olympic gymnast's new protector is an off-duty police officer. Her mother, Teri Johnson, also requested and received a temporary restraining order that prohibits O'Ryan from coming within 100 yards of Johnson and communicating with or harassing her, her parents or dancing partner Mark Ballas.