READ THE ARREST REPORT. Multiple Charges. “Mental Health” Hold By Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Following Takedown Near Whispering Pines Elementary School.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Chirag Patel, the West Boca Raton man banned from Whispering Pines Elementary after spewing anti-Semitic statements at school staff, posting about a “kill” at the school on Facebook, and ranting about Jews in person and online, remains in the Palm Beach County Jail Friday. Patel, who has a son at Whispering Pines Elementary, is being held without bond for burglary and voyeurism — unrelated to the incidents at Whispering Pines.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has also placed a “mental health” hold on Patel, meaning he will have to undergo a mental health evaluation before he can be released from custody.
BocaNewsNow.com obtained the arrest report from Thursday’s incidents near Whispering Pines Elementary in West Boca Raton. We are publishing the unedited text here:
On 8/29/2024, at approximately 09:40am, I responded to an active criminal investigation at the address of (redacted) in unincorporated Boca Raton. According to the initial information, the subject, identified as Chirag Patel, had been stopped by law enforcement afte being observed surreptitiously peering into the windows of the above residence.
Once on scene I began my investigation by speaking with D/S Banuchi #7369 who had conducted the initial fact-finding, and to Lt. Cohen #4671, who had witnessed the incident and stepped out with Patel. It should be noted that prior to this incident, Patel had several interactions with law enforcement at Whispering Pines Elementary School, which was directly adjacent to the above address.
Patel had made several verbal threats about the Jewish community, and had an altercation with the principal of Whispering Pines. Further, Patel had been erratic and verbally aggressive during the interactions with law enforcement, resulting in him being trespassed from the school property. Based on the threats made, an officer safety bulletin had been issued reference Patel, his verbal threats, and him being trespassed from the school. On today’s date, at approximately 08:23am, an anonymous tip came in through the Fortify App which stated the following: “The known suspect that has been causing security concerns at the school was just walking past the school, on Lyons Rd (northbound) during student drop-off. He continued westbound through Boca Gardens and to the Publix Preserve Plaza. He was wearing a thick jacket and kakhi pants.”
According to Lt. Cohen sworn statement, he was parked in the area and observed a male matching the description and believed it to be Patel, based on previous information. As Lt. Cohen was maintaining a visual of Patel, he observed him walking westbound on the north side of Spanish Isles Bivd along the sidewalk. When Patel approached the intersection of & he abruptly cut a right (northbound) from the sidewalk on to the front yard of (a home on) Ruffian Way. Lt Cohen stated thit he observed Patel walk through the grass of the property, approach the southern bedroom window on the west side, and peered into the window, as if looking for someone. He then walked along the residence and attempted to peer through another window, which was blocked.
After doing so, he then walked to a third window which overlooks the majority of the interior of the residence. Lt Cohen described that Patel raised his cell phone, aimed it towards the window and appeared to have been recording. It should be noted that each of the windows that Patel had peered into, including the one that he appeared to have been recording through, were all under the curtilage/overhang of the residence. It was at that point that Lt. Cohen approached and made contact with Patel due to this behavior. Patel initially refused to identify himself to Lt. Cohen and then said that he knew the occupants inside.
During my investigation I conducted sworn recorded interviews with the residents at the address, a (renter), and a stated that he had been at the barbershop but was alerted by the homeowner that the camera’s had picked up Patel on the property, that law enforcement was there, and he was concerned since his younger sister, who was alone at the house. With the assistance of Det. Fuentes, I conducted an interview with (the resident). She expiained that she was alone in the home and sleeping at the time. She was alerted to the incident and expressed significant fear for what may have occurred, if law enforcement hadn’t intervened/made contact with Patel. It should be noted that was sleeping in a room which had a line of sight from the master bedroom window that Patel had been observed peering into. Both and confirmed that they had never met Patel, nor invited him to the residence.
Further, they were concerned based on his erratic behavior that he may come back to the home, since Patel had begun yelling obscenities at (the resident), who also happened to be Jewish. During a recent interaction with law enforcement, Patel had openly discussed his viewpoints that he believed all Jewish people should be dead.
While on scene I attempted to speak with Patel in order to garner his side of what had transpired and determine his purpose for being at the residence, peering into multiple windows, including a bedroom window, and for allegedly recording the interior of the private dwelling, where was alone inside. During my interview, Patel began rambling incoherently about the occupant at “that address” being a “pedophile” and he was “just letting (us) know.” As I began reading him his Miranda warnings, Patel became more belligerent and kept talking-over me. He then abruptly started screaming that he wanted his attorney.
Based on my investigation and the facts outlined above, I find probable cause exists that Chirag Patel was in violation of the following State Statutes: – FSS 810.02(3)(a) – Burglary of Occupied Dwelling – when he did knowingly enter the curtilage of the victim’s residence, which was occupied by at the time; and did so with the intent to commit the crime of voyeurism, therein. – FSS 810.14(1)(a) – Voyeurism – When Patel did with lewd, lascivious and/or indecent intent, did attempt to secretly observe and record using his phone the occupants) in the residence, which at the time was, by going from window to window in attempt to observe the victim, who, at the time of the act had the window blinds closed, providing her with a reasonable expectation of privacy.
