Lodi Police Arrest Man Accused of Using Machete to Threaten His Neighbor

Lodi NJ police recently arrested a local man accused of brandishing a machete and using it to threaten his neighbor.

According to officials, the 48-year-old suspect and the victim got into a heated argument over a motor vehicle that had been parked in the suspect’s driveway. The suspect lives at a residence on Aida Court in Lodi, New Jersey.

When the verbal altercation became a physical altercation, the suspect reportedly walked into his house and emerged holding a machete.

The victim later spoke with police and said that the suspect started “swinging the machete” and “striking it against the house.” The victim also believed that the suspect may have been “looking to fight.”

The Lodi Police Department got word of the incident and dispatched officers to the area. When police officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly saw the suspect holding the machete. Police subdued the suspect and took him into custody.

Thankfully, nobody was injured during the incident.

The suspect was placed under arrest and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

If the suspect is convicted of aggravated assault, he could incur significant criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who tries to cause serious bodily injury to another person while using a deadly weapon, such as a handgun, knife, or machete, can be charged with a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree aggravated assault could result in the suspect being sentenced to 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

After being placed under arrest and charged, the suspect was transported to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack, NJ. He was being held at the jail in lieu of 70,000 bail.

For additional information about this case, go to the NJ.com article entitled “Man Threatens Neighbor with Machete in Parking Dispute, Police Say.”