A 78-year-old landlord is behind bars without bond following an argument over household trash that ended with him allegedly attacking his tenant with a machete, leaving two people injured.

On June 10, police officers responded to a local residence after receiving reports that a landlord was assaulting a tenant with a machete. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim bleeding from his arm, using a piece of clothing to try and stop the flow of blood.

Incident Details

The victim told police that the violent encounter began as a verbal argument with his landlord, 78-year-old Victor Rodriguez-Polledo, over items that needed to be thrown away. According to the police affidavit, Rodriguez-Polledo became angry during the dispute, allegedly snapped, “What the f— are you looking at? You’ll see what I have for you” in Spanish, and walked away.

A few minutes later, Rodriguez-Polledo reportedly returned to the area carrying a machete. He allegedly swung the weapon at the tenant, striking him in the shoulder area with the blunt back side of the blade.

When the landlord allegedly attempted to swing the weapon a second time, the tenant grabbed the blade in self-defense. This resulted in a deep laceration to the victim’s wrist. A witness who stepped in to try and stop the attack was also cut during the struggle.

Emergency responders transported the tenant to an area hospital, where his wrist wound was treated. The bystander who was injured declined medical treatment at the scene.

Following a search of the premises, investigators found and recovered a blood-covered machete hidden behind the property, which was booked into evidence.

Rodriguez-Polledo was detained by officers at the residence. At his arraignment the following day, a judge ordered him held without bond on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.