Atwater police searching for teenager they say swung machete at girl

Atwater police are looking for a 16-year-old boy accused of swinging a machete at a woman earlier this week, the Police Department reported.

The victim, a teenager whose name was withheld for safety reasons, was confronted by two males around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday outside a home in the 2300 block of Atwater Boulevard, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Police said the girl had just paid for a pizza delivery when she was confronted by the 16-year-old boy and a man later identified as Abraham Tucker, 19. Joseph said police believe the 16-year-old made “threatening remarks” that were gang-related and then swung the machete at her at least three times.

The victim was not injured, officers said.

“Tucker encouraged it as he made gang slurs to her referencing that they were on his territory,” Joseph said.

Police said both teenagers were known gang members. Officers located Tucker a short time later and took him into custody after a brief foot chase, police said.

Tucker was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal street gang participation, resisting arrest and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He posted a $50,000 bail bond and was released from custody later that same day.

Police have contacted the 16-year-old boy’s probation officer, but he had not been captured as of late Thursday, police said.

This story was originally published April 2, 2015 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Atwater police searching for teenager they say swung machete at girl."