A Boston man is facing assault charges after he allegedly tried to place a chemical-soaked handkerchief over the mouth of a teenager who was standing on a street corner, authorities said Monday.
Willie Cowart, a 69-year-old Dorchester resident, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on Roxbury BMC last week, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the teenager is 14, but he told NBC10 Boston he is 13.
“Basically, it’s like facing your biggest fear,” he said. “Like the way the guy was looking, too.”
It happened last Monday at the corner of Dudley and Washington streets in Roxbury, according to prosecutors.
The victim told investigators he was waiting to be picked up around 12:21 p.m. when he was approached by a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt. The teen said the man poured a liquid on a red handkerchief, then tried to use it to cover the victim’s mouth.
The teen ran away to the Nubian Square bus station and called police.
“So I push him,” said the teen. “I kind of pushed him back and go tell police in the station.”
Officers quickly found a man matching the description and carrying a red handkerchief, later identified as Cowart, on Dudley Street. Cowart, who prosecutors say was sweating profusely, denied knowing the victim or interacting with him. However, the victim was able to identify Cowart during a “show-up” procedure.
Investigators searched Cowart’s car and found several chemical cleaning agents inside. He was arrested.
“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.
“I’ve been seeing this on TV about people getting kidnapped,” the teenager told NBC10 Boston. “So I was kind of scared, and I was shaking a little bit.”
In a telephone interview with NBC10 Boston, Cowart denied the allegations against him.
“Nothing happened,” he said. “It is false.”
He said that there was no encounter, that the allegations are made up and he doesn’t know who is accusing him.
“I think it’s frivolous,” he said.
Cowart was released on personal recognizance and ordered to stay away from the victim and the location of the alleged incident. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 29 for an appointment of counsel hearing.
Editor’s note: The DA’s office initially said Cowart was held without bail. They later clarified that he was released on personal recognizance with conditions. The story above has been updated to reflect this.
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