Toms River, NJ – The Toms River Police Department officers dealt with a road rage incident that involved a machete at the Ocean County Mall on Sunday.
A victim encountered a male wielding a machete while stopped at a red light on Water Street. Despite fleeing into the Ocean County Mall, the victim was pursued, leading to a call to 911.
After heading north on Hooper Avenue, the suspect’s vehicle, a Blue Jeep Liberty, was sighted, but officers were unable to reach it, resulting in the Brick Police Department being informed.
The male suspect, Austin Martinez, aged 29 from Beachwood, was taken into Brick Police custody following a crash in their township.
A machete was discovered in plain sight in the suspect’s vehicle. Martinez now faces charges of Terroristic Threats, Possession of Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, pending the legal process.