Woman accused of chasing neighbors with machete

FELLSMERE — An 18-year-old woman is accused of chasing her neighbors with a machete during an argument, police said.

Kelly Chantal Rodriguez, of the 100 block of South Broadway Street, Fellsmere, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was released Tuesday from the Indian River County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Police went to the scene about 6 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of South Broadway Street in response to a disturbance. Police spoke with Rodriguez, who showed them where she put the machete inside her home.

The officer got the machete and placed it inside of his patrol car, police said. Rodriguez, who was at the home with a man at the time, told police her neighbor knocked on the door and made racist remarks while waiting for her to answer.

Rodriguez told the man her neighbor, who was with his girlfriend, was outside and upset for some reason. Rodriguez, the man, and one of their friends who was at the home went outside to confront the neighbor, police said.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED FROM FELLSMERE POLICE DEPARTMENT

She said she grabbed the machete before going outside because she was afraid. Rodriguez said an argument began between the group, which is when she raised the machete and pointed it at them to scare them.

Rodriguez said she never intended on using the machete on the neighbor and his girlfriend, police said.

Police spoke with the neighbor and his girlfriend. The neighbor said he knocked on Rodriguez’ door because he thought the residents there “messed with his water again.”

The neighbor told police he waited with his girlfriend near the front of the building when two men at the home came outside to talk. Then, without warning, Rodriguez came from behind the men and charged at the neighbor and his girlfriend with a machete, police said.

The neighbor said the two men had to hold her back. The neighbor and his girlfriend ran up the stairs in fear that they would be stabbed.

Police showed the machete to the neighbor, and he confirmed it was the same weapon used in the altercation. Rodriguez was arrested and taken to the county jail for booking.

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