Cocaine and Boating Don’t Mix.
BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE April 30, 2024: Nearly 20 people have now been arrested. See the updated list here.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — As BocaNewsNow.com reported Monday morning, the arrests for Boca Bash 2024 were few, but notable. While we have received multiple complaints about boater conduct, noise, trash, and other issues on Lake Boca during the annual private event, it appears only two people were arrested — one of the smallest arrest counts we’ve seen in years.
The BocaNewsNowCast for Thursday, May 16, 2024 – The BocaNewsNowCast
The first arrest is Zack Chikovsky. We reported on his arrest around 6 a.m. Monday. An arrest report obtained by Monday afternoon by BocaNewsNow.com reveals that Chikovsky was stopped by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers for an expired registration on his vessel. Officers state they were suspicious of his conduct and administered multiple field sobriety tests. He allegedly failed. Officers then state they found cocaine on the vessel. He was arrested and jailed.
The second arrest processed as of Monday afternoon is Joseph LaFleuer or the 1900 block of NW 4th Avenue in Boca Raton. He is facing a BUI charge. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers wrote this in the arrest report obtained by BocaNewsNow.com:
“On 4/28/2024 at approximately 1730 hours I, Officer Joshua Crespi of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was on water patrol in Lake Boca for Boca Bash in Palm Beach County. I observed a subject later identified as Joseph J Lafleur, operating a 1997 Seacraft and conducted a vessel safety inspection. Upon making contact with Lafleur, I requested his license and registration as well as a life jacket for each person on board. Lafleur was lethargic and moving slowly. Lafleur handed me his fire extinguisher and flares. I asked Lafleur to get his life jackets a second time. I observed Lafleur struggle to open the life jacket package and throw multiple life jackets at the passengers of the vessel. I asked Lafleur if he would be willing to perform field sobriety tasks, to which he agreed.”
LaFleur allegedly failed the tests and was found to be in possession of cocaine. He remains in the Palm Beach County Jail Monday afternoon on both a Boating under the Influence charge and a drug possession charge. Bond is set at $6,000. Check back for additional arrests as they work through the system.
What is the purpose of Boca Bash? It is not a national holiday, just an excuse for a lot of young people to get drunk, high on drugs, pollute the water and cause an inordinate amount of excruciatingly loud music the homeowners and condo residents lining the lake have to endure all day and into the night. Surprisingly, no one was injured with all the speeding jet-skis and large yachts clogging the waterway and interfering with boats trying to pass through. The large party boats contained many more people than life preservers. Why isn’t that enforced by the police?