A 29-year-old Wells man charged and arrested after allegedly waving a machete at people last October is scheduled to appear in court Monday in Blue Earth.
Justin Phillip Crowe faces charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and obstructing the legal process.
Crowe’s hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. in Faribault County District Court. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine.
According to a criminal complaint, a Wells officer on Oct. 22 met three people at a residence after responding to a report of a man waving a machete and hacking a nearby power pole.
The officer described the people as appearing scared and upset.
The group said that they been outside and that man did not speak to them but withdrew and waved at them a machete-type knife about 2 feet long.
Court documents say the man began hacking into a power pole he was standing by before walking away.
While driving down an alley the officer spotted Crowe carrying what appeared to be a machete.
Crowe reportedly entered a garage after the officer told him that he wanted to talk with him.
The officer approached the garage, says the court complaint, and he heard two voice speaking inside and observed a silhouette of a man swinging a knife at the ceiling through a door.
After the officer backed up his squad car, says the complaint, the garage door opened and Crowe and Jose Ruiz walked out.
Court documents say Crowe told the officer, “I am going to take you,” and took a few steps at him before the officer used his Taser.
Crowe was arrested with the assistance of the Faribault County Sheriff’s Office.
Ruiz also was taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct, and authorities seized the machete.