Boston man tried to put chemical-soaked handkerchief over teen’s mouth, DA says

A Boston man was arrested last week after he tried to put a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a 14-year-old boy on the street in Roxbury, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Dorchester resident Willie Cowart, 69, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on July 29, according to court records.

On July 28, Boston and MBTA police responded to a report of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon near Dudley and Washington Streets in Roxbury shortly after 12:20 p.m., the district attorney’s office said in a press release Monday.

Officers spoke to the victim, who told them he was waiting for his brother to pick him up when an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt came over to him, poured an unknown liquid on a red handkerchief and tried to put the handkerchief over his mouth, the district attorney’s office said. The victim fled to the Nubian Square bus station and contacted police.

Shortly after, officers on Dudley Street saw a man — who was later identified as Cowart — wearing a Hawaiian shirt and carrying a red handkerchief, the district attorney’s office said. Cowart was “sweating profusely” and denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him.

Police brought Cowart to the victim, who positively identified him, the district attorney’s office said. The victim was evaluated on scene by emergency responders.

Officers searched Cowart’s car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside, the district attorney’s office said. Police arrested him without incident.

“This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesn’t take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner. I’m grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release.

During Cowart’s arraignment, a judge ordered him held without bail pending an Aug. 8 hearing for appointment of counsel, the district attorney’s office said.