A 36-year-old Miami Gardens man is behind bars after allegedly attacking a woman on a popular Boca Raton walking trail and stealing her phone, according to police.
Lapaul Jackson was taken into custody Saturday and now faces charges of robbery without a firearm or weapon, along with resisting an officer without violence, Boca Raton police confirmed.
The attack unfolded around noon on August 1 along the El Rio Trail near Spanish River Boulevard, a path frequently used by walkers, joggers and cyclists. According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Palm Beach County circuit court, the victim was walking alone when a man approached from behind, shoved her to the ground and grabbed for her phone — a blue iPhone 15 worth roughly $800. A brief struggle followed before the suspect broke free with the device and took off running south along the trail.
The response from law enforcement was swift. A uniformed police sergeant happened to spot the fleeing man and ordered him to halt. When he didn’t comply, additional officers joined the chase on foot, eventually catching up to him and taking him into custody after a brief struggle.
Investigators brought the victim to the scene for an on-the-spot identification, and she confirmed Jackson was the man who had attacked her. A search of the backpack he was carrying turned up her missing iPhone, still in its white case decorated with cat designs, along with a navy baseball cap she said also belonged to her. A black face covering — which the victim said her attacker wore during the assault — was later found tucked into his pants.
Jackson was first taken to a nearby hospital for a routine medical clearance before being booked into the Palm Beach County Jail. He remains held on a combined $20,000 bail across both charges.