Last night at approximately 11:30 pm, the Lakewood Police Department responded to the area of Forest Avenue & 6th Street to investigate the report of a disorderly person.
While en route, officers learned that a male, later identified as 22-year-old Max Sanchez of Lakewood, had approached five Orthodox Jews along Forest Avenue while brandishing a machete.
Although no specific threats were made to any of the victims, his menacing behavior caused fear of imminent injury or harm to each of them. All of the victims fled from Sanchez and contacted the police.
Responding Officers were able to obtain a detailed description of Sanchez, and as a result, he was quickly located and taken into custody without incident. The machete was also recovered.
Further investigation resulted in numerous charges of assault and possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail.
In addition, this investigation is still active. Investigators are looking into several unrelated cases in which Sanchez may have had some involvement.
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ARRESTED – 22 year old Maxwell Sanchez was arrested last night after he was seen waving around a massive machete at people outside of a Synagogue on Forest Avenue in Lakewood, NY pic.twitter.com/zPmvBeh2bG
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) March 14, 2023
