Police recently arrested a Lodi New Jersey man accused of brandishing a machete and threatening to harm his neighbor.
According to authorities, the 48-year-old suspect got involved in a heated verbal altercation with one of his neighbors. The dispute reportedly arose over an argument about a car that was parked in the suspect’s driveway on Aida Court in Lodi, NJ.
When the altercation turned physical, the suspect allegedly went into his house and grabbed a machete.
The victim later told police that the suspect began “swinging the machete” and “striking it against the house.” The victim said that the suspect was possibly “looking to fight.”
The Lodi Police Department got a call about the incident and sent officers to the scene. When police officers arrived at the home, they subdued the suspect and arrested him.
Thankfully, no one was injured as a result of the incident.
The suspect was charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
If the suspect is eventually convicted of aggravated assault, he could face severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who tries to cause serious bodily injury while using a deadly weapon like a handgun, knife, or machete can be charged with a second degree criminal offense. A conviction on second degree aggravated assault charges could lead to a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
After being arrested and processed, the suspect was moved to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ. He was being held at the jail in lieu of a $70,000 bail amount.
For more information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Man Threatens Neighbor with Machete in Parking Dispute, Police Say.”