Machete-Wielding Road Rage Suspect Chases Victim to TRPD Headquarters

Austin Martinez (Photo: Ocean County Jail)

A man who police say was wielding a machete when he knocked on the window of another vehicle during a road rage incident in downtown Toms River eventually followed the man nearly all the way to police headquarters, at which point he was tracked down and arrested by Brick police officers who rushed the intercept the vehicle.

According to a statement from Toms River police, the incident played out at 6:04 p.m. Wednesday, when a victim reported that, while stopped a red light on Water Street, a male driving a blue Jeep Liberty tapped on his window with a machete. The victim attempted to flee from the male and eventually entered the Ocean County Mall only to be spotted by the male suspect who again gave chase through the mall parking lot.

The victim then called 911 and drove to the Toms River Police Department, which is located just over a block from the mall on Oak Avenue. The Jeep then continued north on Hooper Avenue where it was spotted by officers, who were unable to safely catch up to it.

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Those officers notified the Brick Police Department and moments later, Brick police advised their Toms River colleagues that the vehicle had crashed in their town and the male suspect, identified as Austin Martinez, 29, of Beachwood, was in their custody.

Toms River police officers arrived and located the machete “in plain view in the vehicle,” the statement said.

Martinez was charged with terroristic threats, possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He was lodged in the Ocean County Jail Friday night, a check of records showed.