JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville police arrested 69-year old Joseph Dekle after police said he swung a machete at a man during an argument.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the 4400 block of Marquette Avenue on the Westside Monday. Zacharia Nardone, 29, told police his wife got into an argument with the suspect's daughter, Rachel Dekle, 21.
Nardone told police Dekle walked out of his house and retrieved a machete from his car, then started yelling and banging on a vehicle owned by Kayla Forrester, 21, who lived next door, a JSO report said.
Police said Nardone, thinking Dekle might strike his wife, tried to shield her from the suspect, but Dekle struck Nardone on the back causing. Nardone was able to grab the machete from Dekle.
Police said Dekle never mentioned a weapon was involved in the incident, and told police the victim had a "small knife." Dekle's wife told police her husband owned a machete, but it was in his car. She looked in the car and it was missing said police. Police later showed it to Catherine Dekle who said it was her husband's.
Two witnesses told police Dekle hit the vehicle with the machete and another told police she saw Dekle hit the victim with the machete.
Dekle was taken to jail and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. When he was being booked, police found four pills for which he did not have a prescription: acetaminophen and oxydone hydrochloride. He was charged with possessing a controlled substance and attempting to smuggle contraband into a detention facility.
The machete was placed in the police property room.
First Coast News