Smith
A 26-year-old man faces charges following his arrest Tuesday in West Palm Beach for allegedly threatening to stab a man who wanted his stolen fishing poles back.
James Westcott Smith, of Lantana, is accused of taking two fishing poles valued at about $360 from the back of a truck parked near a waterway in the 300 block of Arlington Road. The alleged theft happened shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
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City police say Smith also threatened to stab a 19-year-old man who chased him while trying to get the poles back.
Smith was arrested on charges of simple aggravated assault, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and grand theft. He remained in the Palm Beach County Jail on Wednesday after a judge order he be held without bail on the aggravated assault charge.
According to a police arrest report, the teen told officers he and a friend were walking back to their truck when they saw a person, later identified as Smith, moving around the bed of the truck. They then saw Smith take Shimano and Ugly Stik fishing poles, police said.
The teen, who was carrying another fishing pole, chased after Smith. When he got close, the teen swung the pole in attempt to get Smith to drop the stolen poles, police said. Smith reportedly dropped the poles, went to an unidentified person to retrieve a knife, then threatened the teen.
“I’m going to stab you. Why did you hit me with the pole?,” he allegedly told the teen.
The teen yelled for help and his friend showed up and called police. Smith ran away, but an officer found him hiding behind a Winn Dixie supermarket moments later, police said.
