Second suspect charged in viral e‑bike confrontation in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — A viral video showing a 13-year-old repeatedly screaming for his cellphone back while surrounded by adults inside a gated West Boca Raton community has now led to a second felony arrest.

More than a month after the April 3 confrontation inside the Lotus community, 53-year-old Ari David Brooks was booked Wednesday into the Palm Beach County Jail, according to Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office records. Jail records show Brooks was booked at 12:44 p.m. and released later that evening on surety bond.

New court records show prosecutors charged Brooks with robbery by sudden snatching, battery, petit theft and criminal mischief — the same four charges now facing Mitchell Schuman, the Boca Raton man previously arrested in the case.

CBS12 News has been following the case since videos first surfaced online showing adults confronting a teen over allegations of reckless e-bike riding inside the neighborhood.

One video previously obtained by CBS12 News appeared to show Schuman throwing a water bottle toward the teen during the confrontation.

Another video from Boca News Now appears to show Brooks taking the child’s cellphone before walking into the street while the teen follows behind him repeatedly asking for the phone back.

According to a newly released probable cause affidavit, investigators reviewed additional video evidence with prosecutors and determined “additional charges were warranted” against Brooks.

Detectives accuse Brooks of “purposely withholding” the cellphone while making “no effort” to return it. Investigators also allege Brooks repeatedly grabbed and restrained the child during the incident.

Read more: https://cbs12.com/news/local/second-suspect-charged-viral-e-bike-confrontation-13-year-old-teenager-snatching-battery-charge-boca-raton-palm-beach-county-sheriffs-office-florida-news

#BocaRaton, #PalmBeachCounty, #BreakingNews, #EBike, #CrimeNews, #PBSO, #ViralVideo, #LocalNews, #PublicSafety

_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:

WPEC on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBS12News/
WPEC on : https://x.com/cbs12
Subscribe to WPEC on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsIzhRSKbRtvBGsiLHfcGOA/?sub_confirmation=1

WPEC Daily News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoGNi-_QL0YEz2Pqv7Thy30ageLTzR6p_

WPEC CBS12 is South Florida's source for local news, weather forecasts, sports and community events spanning West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, along with the rest of the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches. We are TheOneToTurnTo.

For more information, visit https://cbs12.com/

Have a tip? Email us at tips@cbs12.com

Call the Newsroom: 561.844.1212

Have a video or photo you want to share? Upload it to cbs12.com/chimein/

WPEC is a FL based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.

#CBS12NEWS #WPEC #WestPalmBeach #SouthFlorida #News #BreakingNews