Boca Raton Police Arrest Suspect in Three Violent Incidents in Delray Beach Shopping Center

Alens Charles (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A 39-year-old man was arrested in Boca Raton after police say he was involved in three violent incidents within minutes of each other near a Publix supermarket and a nearby restaurant in Delray Beach on July 29.

Alens Charles, of Lake Worth, was arrested following a felony traffic stop in Boca Raton after the incidents took place in a shopping center parking lot, according to Delray Beach Police Department probable-cause affidavits. Officers linked the incidents through a light-colored 2007 Toyota Camry that was registered to Charles.

Police reports state the first alleged confrontation occurred about 7:05 p.m. in the Publix parking lot at 4771 W. Atlantic Ave. An adult male and his female companion told officers a man in the Camry approached them, made inappropriate gestures toward the woman and, when confronted, pointed what appeared to be a handgun wrapped in paper at the man while making a verbal threat before driving away. Both later identified Charles in a “show-up” organized by police. A sheathed knife wrapped in a paper bag was recovered from the vehicle during a subsequent search, the affidavits say.

Minutes after the first incident – in the same parking lot – police say Charles was involved in a second altercation. An adult male who had just left the store with groceries told officers the driver of a similar-looking sedan demanded his shopping bags, then struck him in the face when he refused, causing a facial laceration. The alleged victim and an anonymous witness who provided the vehicle’s tag number described the same car. The man later identified Charles in a show-up. During a post-Miranda interview, Charles initially denied involvement before stating he had been present and slapped the man after a verbal exchange he described as a joke, according to the affidavit.

Around 7:15 p.m. the same day, officers responded to a reported battery at a Chili’s restaurant that is located in an outparcel adjacent to the Publix supermarket. A 65-year-old man was found with head lacerations, a bloody nose, neck scratches and a broken rib. He told police he was struck from behind while placing a food order in his vehicle’s trunk and then kicked in the torso. The man described his attacker as a heavy-set black male matching Charles’ description. Investigators tied the attack to the same vehicle and sequence of events.

Charles and a passenger were detained after Boca Raton officers located the Camry and conducted a felony stop a short time later as he was driving southbound. Charles faces charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, strong-arm robbery, simple battery, aggravated battery on a person 65 or older, and aggravated battery, the affidavits state.

Charles remained behind bars at the Palm Beach County Jail on July 8, in lieu of $160,000 bail combined for the five charges he is facing.