Eatontown Police Arrest Man Wanted For Machete Threats

EATONTOWN, NJ — Eatontown Police helped arrest a man Saturday who they say was wanted for threatening another man with a machete at an auction in Howell.

This happened Saturday at the Collingwood Auction and Flea Market, held daily on Rt. 33 in Howell: Howell Police say a Bayville man threatened a Neptune Twp. man with a machete over an unpaid car repair bill.

Luis Taveras, 39, of Bayville, walked into the auction at 9 a.m. Saturday carrying a large machete. He approached a 40-year-old Neptune man and demanded payment for a car repair, using the machete to intimidate the victim, said police.

Multiple witnesses who were present "prevented the incident from escalating into a physical altercation or the (machete) being used," said Howell Police.

Taveras fled in his car — without receiving any money — before police arrived.

He was arrested in Eatontown about noon that same day, Saturday, with the assistance of Eatontown Police. He was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and terroristic threats. Howell Police did not say where in Eatontown this man was apprehended.

Taveras is currently being held in the Monmouth County Jail.