Fort Worth police arrested a machete-carrying man on drug charges Friday after a FOX 4 news crew spotted and followed him for about a mile, helping officers locate a person of interest in two attacks near Capps Park.
Police had not confirmed that the unidentified man carried out either attack as of the station’s Friday report. Officers found illicit drugs and a machete in his possession, FOX 4 reported.
Two victims suffered minor hand wounds
Officers responded at about 6:15 a.m. Friday to Capps Park, 907 W. Berry St., after a victim reported a man attacking people with a machete.
The victim suffered a small cut to his hand and declined medical treatment. Police then learned that a second attack had occurred about 45 minutes earlier. The second victim also suffered a minor hand wound and declined treatment, CBS News Texas reported.
Fort Worth police described both attacks as unprovoked. The man left the area before officers arrived.
News crew relayed the man’s location
FOX 4 reporter Casey Stegall and photojournalist Richie Roberson went to the park later Friday to cover the attacks. They spotted a man sitting at a picnic table who matched the description police had released and appeared to have a machete.
Stegall and Roberson called police, who asked them to follow the man from a safe distance and relay his location. The crew trailed him for about a mile along Berry Street until multiple police units stopped him near South Grove Street.
Police said the man’s clothing matched the descriptions provided by the victims. Officers also recovered a machete and illicit drugs from him.
“One of the things that we always share is that if you see something, say something,” Fort Worth Police Officer Buddy Calzada said.
Police await a victim identification
Police identified the arrested man only as a person of interest. Investigators said they still need one of the victims to identify him in a photo lineup before they can connect him to the attacks.
The station blurred the man’s face because police had not linked him to the attacks. Authorities had not released his name or age.
Anyone with information may call Fort Worth police at 817-392-4222.
In a separate Fort Worth case in June, police said a resident fatally shot a machete-wielding man who allegedly approached him after dragging a woman down Ross Avenue, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Provided by Dallas Express
