Shirtless man allegedly approached boy in restroom, forced him to eat Gushers candy
BOSTON (TCN) — A 34-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history has been arrested and charged in connection with an incident in which he allegedly forced a child to eat candy in a restaurant bathroom.
According to a police report obtained by WFXT, a 13-year-old boy whose name has not been released encountered Ronald Johns shirtless in the restaurant’s restroom on March 21. Johns was allegedly holding a box of Gushers candy and repeatedly asked the boy to eat some. The boy reportedly refused the candy several times before eventually eating one.
MassLive reports the child later said he was intimidated and afraid of Johns, who was allegedly standing in front of the door and refusing to let the child pass until he ate the candy.
WFXT reports that after the boy ate the candy, he left the building and walked to a playground with a group of friends. MassLive reports the playground was about 10 minutes away. Johns allegedly followed the boy and his friends, repeatedly speaking with the group despite being asked several times not to. One of the children’s parents later told police what had happened. MassLive reports that the child who ate the candy was taken to the hospital for a drug test, which came back negative.
When police made contact with Johns, he allegedly told police the children were bothering him. WFXT reports he said, “I didn’t touch nobody or nothing. I don’t have no drugs or no weapons. I didn’t do anything bad, bro, I swear.”
MassLive reports Johns, who is homeless, was placed under a section 12 psychiatric hold.
Police learned Johns has a criminal history across several states. Past charges include sexual abuse, forcible touching, public indecency, and assault and battery. His most recent charge was on March 12, according to MassLive.
On April 15, he was arraigned on charges of kidnapping and accosting or annoying another person and has a court appearance scheduled for May 13. Bail was set at $1,500.
