A Central Florida man was arrested for attacking his victim with a machete after an argument over tools turned violent.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were recently dispatched to a residence on Flamingo Boulevard in Winter Haven, following a report of an armed disturbance.
The machete attack resulted with one man in the Polk County Jail, and another man in a local hospital with a severe laceration on his arm.
When deputies arrived, the victim, a 38-year-old male, was no longer in the home. Local law enforcement said witnesses left with him and headed to a local hospital, as the victim suffered a laceration and had severe bleeding.
The suspect, 34-year-old Moises Alberto Rodriguez, attempted to flee from his home, but complied when deputies ordered him to stop, according to PCSO.
Rodriguez was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a glass pipe and methamphetamine.
According to witness statements, the victim and another man were working on a vehicle, and the victim went to a shed in the backyard to get some more tools.
According to law enforcement, Rodriguez confronted the victim, and told him not to use his tools. The victim entered the shed anyway, and Rodriguez picked up a machete and swung it at the victim. The victim lifted his arm in front of his head to block the machete, and subsequently suffered a deep cut to his left forearm.
The victim, suspect, and witnesses are all related.
The suspect provided a full confession to the crime, but refused to reveal the whereabouts of the machete, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office stated.
According to PCSO, Moises Alberto Rodriguez was arrested and booked-in at the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with: attempted second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
