In a chilling and eye-opening moment captured on newly released police bodycam footage, Michael Lewis the man convicted of stalking WNBA star Caitlin Clark can be seen downplaying his disturbing behavior just days before his arrest. The footage, obtained by TMZ Sports, reveals a tense confrontation between Lewis, FBI agents, and Indianapolis police outside his hotel room on January 8, 2025.
The video comes amid growing concern for athlete safety, particularly for high-profile female stars like Clark, who has become one of the most recognized names in women’s basketball.
“It’s Just an Imaginary Relationship”
During the confrontation, Lewis is calm but evasive, insisting to federal agents and local police that his actions were harmless and misinterpreted. “It’s just an imaginary relationship,” Lewis says in the footage. “It doesn’t involve any threats. Just a play fun thing.”
Authorities weren’t convinced. They had been tracking Lewis’s behavior since mid-December, after he began sending Clark a series of explicit messages and increasingly hostile threats via social media and email. Despite being repeatedly warned to cease all contact and online postings about Clark, Lewis persisted.
When questioned by agents, Lewis attempted to frame his presence in Indianapolis as coincidental, claiming he was simply “on vacation.” He even allowed police to search his hotel room, which reportedly contained no weapons or other immediate threats. But his online activity, travel pattern, and refusal to back down painted a much more serious picture.
Arrest and Sentencing
Just four days after the footage was recorded, on January 12, Lewis was officially arrested and charged with felony stalking and misdemeanor harassment. The case, brought by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, revealed a troubling obsession that went beyond fan behavior.
In July, Lewis pleaded guilty. The judge sentenced him to two and a half years in prison and imposed a strict no-contact order with Caitlin Clark. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated that the outcome was about ensuring justice and providing peace of mind for the victim.
“This case was about accountability,” Mears said. “The victim will be able to have peace of mind while focusing on what matters to her.”
A Reminder of the Dark Side of Fame
The disturbing case has sparked wider discussions around athlete safety, particularly in the WNBA, where stars like Clark are increasingly in the public eye and vulnerable to dangerous attention. It’s also a stark reminder of the gap between what stalkers believe and the real-world impact of their behavior.
As Clark continues to deal with the aftermath including recovery from a currently undisclosed injury that has kept her sidelined fans and teammates alike are rallying behind her.
This incident is not just a personal ordeal it’s a call to ensure better protections and quicker interventions when athletes face harassment.