VERO BEACH — A small Fourth of July gathering ended in the arrest of a man who, police say, wielded a machete and began swinging at people during an argument with a 14-year-old.
Baltazar Ramirez, 60, of the 1500 block of 43rd Avenue in Vero Beach, now faces two felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one felony charge of child abuse.
Witnesses at the party told investigators from the Vero Beach Police Department that Ramirez grabbed the 14-year-old victim by the throat before another man separated the two. Ramirez then grabbed a 16-inch machete, swung it at the second man’s head and missed, according to the arrest affidavit.
Ramirez threatened “to kill” at least two people at the party, witnesses told authorities.
Police noted the Department of Children and Families would be contacted due to underage drinking and child abuse reported from the party.
Ramirez is being held in the Indian River County Jail in lieu of $70,000 bond.
