A woman with a documented history of harassment has been charged with seven criminal counts in Los Angeles County following a series of escalating attacks against former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. The charges stem from an incident on March 25, when the suspect allegedly threw an unidentified substance at the 76-year-old musician in Santa Monica, violating a standing restraining order.
Court documents reveal that Michelle Dick is facing multiple felony charges, including making criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon. The legal proceedings follow a years-long pattern of alleged stalking and psychological harassment that Buckingham claimed had left him and his family in fear for their safety. A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Dick, setting bail at $300,000.
The March 25 encounter occurred after Dick allegedly tracked Buckingham to a specific location in Santa Monica. According to law enforcement sources, the woman hurled a substance at the musician before fleeing the scene. While it was not immediately clear if the substance was caustic, Buckingham was not injured during the encounter. The attack represents the latest escalation in a conflict that prosecutors allege began in late 2021.
A Timeline of Escalation and Legal Intervention
The criminal complaint outlines a disturbing progression of behavior that moved from digital harassment to physical confrontation. Prosecutors allege that Dick stalked both Buckingham and a second victim, identified as Stephanie N., creating a reasonable fear for their safety. The legal record indicates that the harassment began with dozens of phone calls and “long, drawn-out messages” in which Dick claimed to be Buckingham’s child and threatened to kill him and his family.
The situation reached a critical point in late 2024, leading Buckingham to seek a civil harassment restraining order. In his petition, Buckingham detailed a series of frightening events, including the delivery of an Instagram photo collage to his home on September 18, 2024, and an instance where Dick allegedly parked her car outside his residence the following day.
One of the most severe incidents occurred on November 3, 2024, in a “swatting” attack. Court filings state that Dick used her cellphone to call 911 and falsely report that Buckingham’s son was suicidal and that gunshots had been heard inside the home. This triggered a massive police response to Buckingham’s Brentwood residence, resulting in the musician being handcuffed and detained outside in the cold for 20 minutes while officers searched the property.
“When I answered the door, I was handcuffed and asked to step outside,” Buckingham wrote in his statement. “After 20 minutes of the police searching my house and me outside in the cold, handcuffed, I was let back into my house, shaken and fearful.”
Following the incident, LAPD Detective Marisol Landeros contacted Dick. According to the detective’s written statement to the court, Dick admitted to making the bogus 911 call. Detective Landeros subsequently urged the court to grant a stayaway order, stating her belief that Dick was “mentally unstable and dangerous.”
| Date | Alleged Incident / Legal Action | Legal Status/Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Late 2021 | Initiation of phone calls and death threats | Stalking Allegations |
| Nov 3, 2024 | False 911 report (“Swatting” incident) | Restraining Order Petition |
| Dec 20, 2024 | Judge Elizabeth Scully grants stayaway order | 5-Year Restraining Order |
| March 19, 2025 | Assault with vehicle; vandalism of Mercedes-Benz | Felony Charges |
| March 25, 2025 | Attack with unidentified substance in Santa Monica | Felony Threat / Battery |
The Nature of the Harassment
The motive behind the attacks appears rooted in a delusional claim. Buckingham stated in court documents that Dick frequently rambled about him being her father and accused him of suffocating her as a child. She further blamed him for facial deformities she allegedly suffered during childhood and demanded money from him.
Buckingham categorically denied these claims, stating, “I do not realize Ms. Dick, and I am not her father.” The harassment also extended to his wife, with threats directed at her via Instagram, which Buckingham noted had terrified his spouse.
In response to these threats, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Scully issued a comprehensive protection order on December 20, 2024. The order required Dick to remain at least 100 yards away from Buckingham, his wife, his son, their homes, and their vehicles for a period of five years. The current criminal charges reflect a direct violation of this judicial mandate.
Creative Pursuits Amidst Personal Turmoil
Despite these harrowing personal challenges, Buckingham has remained focused on his musical output. He recently shared via Instagram that he is nearing the completion of a new solo album, noting he is only one song away from finishing the project. He also mentioned the potential release of a Fleetwood Mac documentary this year.
Buckingham has also hinted at a possible reconciliation with longtime collaborator Stevie Nicks. He suggested that the recent reissue of their 1973 debut album, Buckingham Nicks, has fostered a “resurgence of connection” between the two. He described this energy as “something that’s in the air,” though he declined to speculate on the exact nature of any future collaboration, only stating that he believes it will be “something good, and something wonderful.”
This creative momentum comes after a turbulent decade for the musician, which included an acrimonious 2018 split from Fleetwood Mac, a subsequent legal battle with the band that ended in a private settlement, and a serious heart attack in 2019 that required surgery.
Disclaimer: This article reports on ongoing legal proceedings. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The next phase of the legal process will involve the execution of the arrest warrant and the subsequent arraignment of Michelle Dick, where she will formally enter a plea to the seven counts. Further updates will depend on the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s scheduling for the felony complaint.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on the impact of celebrity stalking and the effectiveness of current restraining order laws in the comments below.
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