Dorchester man allegedly approached 14-year-old with chemical-laced handkerchief

A Dorchester man is facing an assault charge after allegedly placing a chemical-laced handkerchief over a teenager’s mouth last week, prosecutors announced Monday. 

Willie Cowert, 69, was charged Wednesday with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on Wednesday in Roxbury BMC, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a press release. 

Judge Vanessa Vélez released Cowart without having to pay bail and ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim and the incident location, Hayden said. 

The victim, a 14-year-old boy, told police he was waiting for his brother to pick him up in Roxbury on June 28 when he was approached by an older man wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

The man poured an unknown liquid on a handkerchief and attempted to put it over the boy’s mouth, officials said. The boy then escaped to the Nubian Square bus station and called the police, the DA’s office said.

Officers located Cowert, who was “sweating profusely.” Cowert denied knowing the victim or having any interaction with him, the release said. 

Hayden said officers searched Cowart’s vehicle and found numerous chemical cleaning substances inside the car. 

Cowart was arrested without incident, officials said. He is scheduled to return to court Oct. 29. 

 “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.” Hayden said. “I’m grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries.”

This story has been updated to correct the name of the judge involved.