Machete wielder threatens driver at police station

Tears streamed down Kymani McLean's face in the Half-Way Tree Parish Court yesterday as he faced charges of malicious destruction of property, assault at common law, and making threats.

McLean, who pleaded guilty, was accused of chasing a man, damaging his vehicle with a machete, and threatening to kill him on the grounds of the Half-Way Tree Police Station. The incident reportedly began after McLean claimed the complainant had destroyed his property.

"After the incident, I was advised that he was a [chartered taxi service company driver] and he came and destroyed my property, and I [was] trying [to] chase him down, and that's how the malicious destruction of property [charge came about]," McLean told the court. He admitted to pursuing the man with his car and later wielding a machete.

"When he fled, I went to my car and drove him down to a stoplight, and then I had a machete in my car and I took it out and I swing it at the left rear," said McLean, who claimed to be a law student. The prosecutor, however, painted a different picture.

"He drove the complainant down to the police station, got out of his car with the machete, and then pointed it at the complainant, indicating certain threats," the prosecutor said.

McLean clarified that the vehicle was not damaged at the police station, but at a stoplight in Patrick City before he chased the man to the police station.

McLean subsequently pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property and assault at common law. He was remanded until January 22, 2025, for sentencing. A fingerprint order was also made.

- T.P.