A 34-year-old man is facing serious charges after Boston police say he followed a group of children from a Charlestown restaurant into a bathroom on March 21 and forced a 13-year-old boy to eat Gushers candy. Officers found the man partially undressed in the restaurant bathroom and arrested him after witnesses reported erratic behavior at a nearby playground, according to police. The child was taken to Boston Childrens Hospital for evaluation and had a negative drug screen, police said.
According to MassLive, the incident began at the 99 Restaurant on Austin Street. The group of children then walked about 10 minutes to Edwards Playground on Eden Street, with the suspect allegedly trailing them. Officers later found the man on Dunstable Street, handcuffed him, and placed him under a Section 12 psychiatric hold because of his reported behavior, police said.
Suspects record and police response
Police records show the man has recent arrests in Georgia, New York, Virginia and North Carolina. Those include sexual-abuse and harassment allegations in New York and public-indecency complaints connected to Georgia State University police. Local records also list assault-and-battery counts and a complaint that he punched a concierge at the Hyatt Centric on Devonshire Street.
Timeline and officer response
The boys father called officers to Edwards Playground just before 2 p.m., telling them the group had been followed after leaving the restaurant. When officers located the suspect on Dunstable Street, they say he told them, "they was bothering me at the bar. I didn't touch nobody or nothing."
Charges and next court date
Court records show the man was arraigned April 15 in the Charlestown division of Boston Municipal Court on charges of kidnapping a child and accosting or annoying another person. A judge set bail at $1,500. His next hearing is scheduled for May 13 by Zoom, according to MassLive.
Whats next
Police say the suspect was placed under a Section 12 psychiatric hold at the time of his arrest and that the investigation is still active. Officers described him as unhoused with multiple recent arrests in Boston. Officials have not released additional identifying details while the case remains open.
