Boca Raton Man Charged With Threatening Parking Officer, Screaming at Beachgoers

Leon Maddox (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A Lake Worth man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly threatening a Boca Raton parking enforcement officer and screaming obscenities at beachgoers.

Leon Maddox, 53, faces charges of disorderly intoxication, simple assault and violating a city ordinance against bringing alcohol into a park, Boca Raton police said. According to the arrest report, a parking enforcement officer was conducting routine duties near the pavilion at South Beach Park on the barrier island around 4:05 p.m. when she said she saw a man, later identified as Maddox, “screaming and yelling obscenities” at people walking through the oceanfront park.

The officer said she called out to Maddox from across the street and told him to stop, at which point he allegedly crossed the parking lot toward her with his fists clenched, telling her, “f— you.” Fearing for her safety, the officer said she ran to her vehicle and called police. A witness told officers he saw Maddox approaching people in the park in an aggressive manner, “as if he were looking for a fight,” causing bystanders to avoid him and walk the other way, according to the report.

South Beach Park pavilion, Boca Raton, FL. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

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When officers arrived, they said they found Maddox seated near the Pavilion listening to loud music with a bottle of vodka concealed in a plastic bag. Police said he showed signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, and became aggressive during the encounter, at one point standing up and saying, “What the f— you gonna do about it,” while allegedly continuing to disturb the peace.

Maddox declined to provide a statement, police said. He remained lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail on Friday in lieu of $2,000 bail on three charges.