Unlawful carry, aggravated assault, harassment: Florida man back in jail for third time
Roughly a week after being arrested for running through and concealing a 10-to-12-inch Egyptian-style knife, the same man is back in jail — for the third time.
The first time 43-year-old Hawazin Gridley Wright was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail November 19, he was charged with unlawful carry of a concealed weapon and resisting arrest without violence with a citation for obstructing traffic by a pedestrian. The second time, early Friday morning, he was charged with possession of ecstasy or MDMA and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The latest incident happened Sunday evening: Wright was charged with harassment and sending written threats to kill or do harm.
The most recent victim, 46-year-old Jacklyn Edelstein, told West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) officers she met Wright online.
Although the pair went on three dates, the woman discovered some facts that the man lied to her about, like his previous arrests, the affidavit said. Once she realized this, Edelstein ceased contact with him, which sparked the alleged threatening messages and harassment.
Wright told the woman she was a dead woman walking, and he "wanted to punch a Jew in the face," according to the arrest report.
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The man allegedly threatened Edelstein further, stating if she let one more of his phone calls go to voicemail then she'd be dead by the next morning. He also claimed to be meeting with gang members to "acquire flashbang grenades," the documents said.
The victim's apartment management also informed her of Wright looking for her around the area.
Due to his alleged actions, the man was booked into jail again Sunday evening and remains there as of Monday afternoon with a total bond of $40,000. At his first appearance hearing Monday morning, Wright was ordered to have no contact with the victim or weapons and is due back in court for a status check in the new year.
A week ago almost down to the precise hour of his newest arrest Sunday, Wright was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail following a brief foot pursuit through traffic on Okeechobee Boulevard during a pro-Palestine protest while wearing short-shorts and holding a guitar with a knife beneath his shirt. Roughly 1,000 people were present for the event, waving Palestine's flag and calling for its freedom.
A small group of counter protestors were also in attendance. Some of them claimed the pro-Palestinian supporters were speaking antisemitic rhetoric.
Wright was booked into jail after this encounter then released about two hours after. Just mere days later, he was back in jail, facing the drug and aggravated assault charges.
In this incident, the man was involved in an altercation in downtown West Palm Beach after reportedly following a woman then pulling out a baton on a man standing up for her. He was promptly tackled to the ground by another person then restrained until law enforcement arrived, the arrest report said.
He was released from jail Saturday, and roughly 25 hours later, Wright was back yet again regarding the alleged harassment and threats toward Edelstein.
