Former dean arrested on stalking charges

BRISTOL, R.I. - A former associate dean of Roger Williams University in Bristol has been charged with stalking.

State police arrested John Dawson on Thursday and searched his home in Scituate. He was released after promising to appear in Providence Superior Court on May 21.

Detective Lt. Jim Demers said Dawson, 66, sent more than 130 derogatory letters to university faculty and officials since at least July 2001. Dawson was fired from Roger Williams the previous year, but the school wouldn’t say why.

Dawson declined to comment on the charges.

Roger Williams University released a statement.

“We are hopeful that today’s arrest will bring closure to this difficult matter as well as reassurance to those affected by it,“ the statement said in part.

None of the letters threaten the recipients with bodily harm or other crimes. But Bob Avery, the university’s general counsel, said the overall tone was vulgar and threatening.