A Dorchester man started screaming at two gay women coming out of a market and was attempting to beat them with his cane when police arrived on the scene Wednesday evening, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Henry L. Alexander, 41, was arraigned yesterday on two counts each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, violation of civil rights, assault with a dangerous weapon, and threats to commit a crime. Dorchester District Court Judge Michael J. Coyne set bail at $500 and ordered Alexander to Bridgewater State Hospital for evaulation - after which Alexander allegedly vowed to kill someone.

According to prosecutors, two women had just left a market at the intersection of Intervale Street and Blue Hill Avenue around 7 p.m. when Alexander demanded to know if they were gay. When they answered they were, he started following them and screaming homophobic slurs at them, the DA's office reports. Police officers arrived on scene just in time to see Alexander attempt to beat them with his cane, the DA's office says: "The officers ordered Alexander to put down his cane. Instead, he allegedly began swinging it at the officers. The officers were able to remove the cane from his grip and place him in handcuffs."

As they were doing that, a third woman showed up to report Alexander had followed her about an hour earlier, according to the DA's office, which adds that on the right to B-2 for booking, Alexander allegedly threatened to shoot the cops taking him in.