Arrest in machete attack

A 33-year-old man who attacked another man with a machete was arrested Thursday afternoon in Marathon.

Joshua Lee Meadows of Marathon was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Middle Keys Road Patrol Deputy Michelle Swilley responded to 82nd Street about 3:15 p.m. where she found the victim who told her Meadows was a construction co-worker and they got into a disagreement over a power cord. The suspect accused the victim of unplugging the power cord to a tent he was staying in with his girlfriend. The victim told Meadows to plug the power cord back in, when Meadows picked up a machete and swung it at him multiple times, hitting his arms. The victim had dust all over his back and fresh cuts to his arms.

A neighbor reported seeing Meadows swinging a machete over his head while chasing the victim down the street.

A nearby citizen and a U.S. Border Patrol agent flagged down Deputy Swilley and told her where to find the suspect. Sgt. Joel Slough then located the suspect and detained him. Meadows was taken to the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock island.

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