Boca Raton Man Accused of Assaulting, Robbing Man While Walking to the Beach

Stewart Schiff (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A Boca Raton man who was arrested three months ago for committing a lewd act near a public beach has been re-arrested on fresh charges of assaulting and robbing another man while he was walking to the beach more than a year ago.

Stewart Schiff, 61, of Boca Raton remained in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail on Friday after his arrest on April 1. The incident that sparked the latest charges occurred at Red Reef Park on Jan. 29, 2025, however Schiff’s arrest was delayed due to the time it took to process DNA evidence from the scene, according to court documents.

A police report obtained by Boca Daily News states that the incident, which took place at 11:59 a.m. that day, occurred as the alleged victim was walking to the beach on the boardwalk. The man, who was 72-year-old, told police he was walking near the beach entrance when a white male individual began randomly yelling at him, prompting him to attempt to walk away. When the man continued to yell, he took out his phone in order to document the encounter, the report said.

According to the report, when the victim attempted to take a video or photograph, the suspect, Schiff, became upset and allegedly told the man, “You’re going to [expletive removed] die, old man.” He then demanded the phone, saying, “Give me that [expletive removed] phone,” and moved quickly toward the older man.

The 72-year-old tried to walk away, but the suspect caught up to him and allegedly grabbed his arm and upper back, causing him to fall onto the boardwalk. The report said the victim sustained minor abrasions to his right knee, left leg, and right elbow. In the moment, the victim threw his own phone into nearby bushes to keep it from being stolen. The suspect then left the scene.

Investigators collected DNA evidence following the reported altercation on the boardwalk, the report stated. Crime scene technicians photographed the man’s minor abrasions and took swabs from his left shirt sleeve and a hat. Investigating officers said a park ranger told them about a similar reported incident involving Schiff.

The swabs were submitted to the Palm Beach County crime lab, where a DNA profile was developed and allegedly matched that of Schiff. Detectives obtained a search warrant and collected confirmation swabs from Schiff on December 23, 2025. Those samples were sent to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for comparison.

The latest arrest comes just a few months after Schiff was taken into custody on charges of committing a lewd act near the beach entrance at Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. In that incident, he was accused of pleasuring himself while partially nude and blocking a beach entrance, in sight of visitors.

Schiff has been charged with aggravated assault on a person aged 65 or older, as well as robbery without a firearm. He remains lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.