Claims The Axe Is Actually An “Agricultural Tool.” Jailed On Aggravated Assault Charge.
BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A man allegedly seen mimicking a gun with his fingers, then observed with an axe, was taken down by Boca Raton Police Thursday afternoon in the 300 block of SW 8th Street.
In a police report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com, two witnesses say they saw Dean Rodriguez driving past them, “making a hand gesture to mimic a gun. Both of the witnesses were confused as they saw Rodriguez drive by and then make a U-Turn, making the same hand gesture to them for a second time.”
The witnesses continued to watch and believed they saw Rodriguez wearing black gloves and a black mask covering his face, only showing his eyes. The witnesses said they saw Rodriguez step out of his vehicle, a silver Saturn with a Georgia temporary tag, and remove what they described as a big knife with a yellow handle. They called police.
Boca Raton Police officers located Rodriguez who claimed he was looking for his friend who he only communicates with via Instagram in “vanish mode.” Rodriguez, according to police, couldn’t tell them where this friend lived.
“It should be noted,” wrote police, “that Rodriguez was wearing black latex gloves and a black full face mask, revealing only his eyes. Initially, Rodriguez claimed that he was fearful his ‘friend’ might set him up, so he was standing outside his vehicle holding an “agricultural tool” for self-defense. It should be noted that the “agricultural tool” was a large axe with a long yellow handle.
“When I tried to clarify Rodriguez’s purpose for having the axe in his hand for self-defense, he claimed this time that it’s an agricultural tool and he did not have it for the purpose of self-defense. (He stated) that anyone could possess this axe and that it was available for purchase at Harbor Freight.”
Rodriguez was arrested and booked into the Palm Beach County jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as the two witnesses were allegedly scared by his using gun-like hand gestures, then displaying the axe.
