A chilling incident in Roxbury has led to the arrest of a 69-year-old Dorchester man. Willie Cowart is currently being held without bail after he allegedly attempted to quickly subdue a teenage boy with a chemical-soaked cloth. The assault took place last Monday at the bustling intersection of Dudley and Washington streets, a detail reported by NBC Boston.
Authorities relay that the 14-year-old victim was seemingly waiting to get picked up around midday when Cowart approached. Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, he is accused of having poured a liquid onto a red handkerchief in an attempt to cover the youth's mouth with it. The teen was able to escape the frightening situation, fleeing to the safety of the Nubian Square bus station, where he contacted the police. "This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts," Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden expressed, as per NBC Boston.
In response to the call, officers located and questioned a man who matched the victim's description, identified as Cowart, on Dudley Street. WHDH notes that Cowart, who was found sweating profusely, denied any interaction with the teenager. However, during a show-up procedure, the frightened victim was able to positively identify Cowart as the assailant.
The police investigation further solidified suspicions when several chemical cleaning agents were discovered in Cowart's car. Following the findings, he was apprehended and is now being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. According to WHDH, Cowart is scheduled to potentially find an appointed counsel at an upcoming hearing on Friday.
