Suspect in machete attack claims self-defense

The Arcadia man who was arrested for allegedly attacking people with a machete on June 29 told police he acted in self-defense.

Juan Rodriguez Waldo, 39, made his initial appearance in Trempealeau County Circuit Court on Tuesday on charges of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, substantial battery, and disorderly conduct — all with dangerous weapon modifiers. Rodriguez Waldo has been free since posting a $50,000 cash bond on July 8. 

An initial press release issued by the Arcadia Police Department said the Trempealeau County Dispatch Center received several calls reporting a fight between 20 or 30 people. Among the callers was Rodriguez Waldo, telling dispatch he acted in self-defense, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, Arcadia Police Chief Nic Scholl went to Rodriguez Waldo’s residence the next day and spoke with his daughter. She told Scholl that she and her family were leaving a graduation party held at the Arcadia Lions Pavilion in Memorial Park when she witnessed numerous people jump on another man. She said her father was involved in the altercation and assisted in getting the other man away from the area.

When Scholl spoke with Rodriguez Waldo, the accused said he tried to break up the fight on his own, then went to his vehicle to retrieve the machete. He admitted to using the weapon, saying it was for self-defense. He said he did not know where the machete was.

That story is different from what witnesses at the scene told law enforcement.

Upon hearing the call from dispatch at 1:09 a.m., Independence Police Chief Jim Waniorek responded and was the first officer on the scene. Waniorek wrote in the complaint that he witnessed a large group of people standing around the pavilion and was flagged down to assist a person who appeared to be severely hurt. 

The first person Waniorek saw appeared to have blood all over his body, with a large laceration on the left side of his upper cheek. Waniorek wrote that the laceration was about five inches long and half an inch deep. The Independence Chief said he saw another male with a 15-inch laceration on the side of his stomach. The initial report said four people were transported to Gundersen Tri-County Hospital in Whitehall and others were injured. 

One of the victims told Waniorek that Rodriguez Waldo approached the pavilion during a graduation party and asked women to join him for a drink. The witness said Rodriguez Waldo was asked to leave the area, but would not. The victim said Rodriguez Waldo later returned with a machete and attacked several people.

Rodriguez Waldo left the scene before authorities arrived. 

In a release issued on July 4, the Arcadia Police Department said another man, Antonio Lorenzo Blas, 47, was arrested for battery stemming from the altercation. Charges had not yet been filed against Lorenzo Blas as of late last week.