Crime

Man Enters Bar in St. Thomas and Starts Swinging Machete at Patrons

ST. THOMAS — A machete-wielding bar patron has been charged with third degree assault and reckless endangerment after a disturbance on Saturday Night. Miguel Encarnacion also faces charges of disturbance of the peace and carrying or using a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence. The latter offense is punishable by a minimum of 15 years in prison. He was arrested after an individual called police to report that someone was trying to kill a person at a bar in Gamble Gade. Upon arrival police found several people outside the bar yelling at a Hispanic male who was being held back by another man. Inside the bar, a woman told police that she had taken a machete from the man later identified as Miguel Encarnacion and placed it behind the bar for safekeeping. She explained that Encarnacion came into the business and was asked to leave after he started cursing at people. He then stated that he was going for a weapon to come back and returned in a matter of minutes, drawing a machete fr...