The unforgettable "electric youth" Debbie Gibson called the cops on a threatening stalker who startled her outside Manhattan's Palace Theater Sunday night. |

Police arrested Michael Falkner of Eau Claire, Wis., for stalking the '80s bubble gum queen, who was not injured during the incident. Gibson has received "many" menacing letters, e-mails and faxes from the 29-year-old suspect over the last several years, David Salidor, a spokesman for the singer told JAMTV on Tuesday.

"This is the so-called dark side of being a celebrity that no one likes to talk about," Salidor said. "Thankfully she was never in any danger."

According to the Associated Press, Falkner was waiting by the backstage door to the Palace, where Gibson is currently starring as Belle in the Broadway adaptation of "The Beauty and the Beast." Bodyguards for the 28-year-old star -- who now goes by Deborah -- recognized the man as a member of her fan club and immediately called the police.

Falkner was arrested at approximately 11:30 p.m Sunday and charged with one count of aggravated assault and three counts of harassment. He is being held on $2,500 bail and is due back in court on Friday for a hearing.

America's cutest mallrat of the late '80s, Gibson first made headlines in 1988 when she became the youngest artist -- at age 17 -- to ever write, perform and produce a No. 1 single -- "Foolish Beat" from the album Out of the Blue. That chart-topping debut was followed by Electric Youth, which stayed at No. 1 for three weeks and spawned an ill-fated fragrance by the same name.

After several disappointing releases in the early 1990s, Gibson shifted her talents to Broadway, where she has starred in productions of "Les Miserables," "Funny Girl" and "Grease." Gibson was slated to hit the stage again Tuesday after a previously scheduled night off Monday, when she shot a music video.

Several years ago, Gibson had another run-in with an obsessed fan from Cleveland, Ohio, who was taken into custody as well. (Anni Layne)