Man attacks merchandise with machete

Yuma police are looking for a man who attacked junk food and other merchandise inside a gas station with a machete Wednesday afternoon. There were no injuries reported.

The incident happened at about 3:45 p.m. when a man, described by the Yuma Police Department as dark complected, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weighing about 160 pounds, entered the Barney’s gas station at 895 South 4th Avenue while wielding a machete in a threatening manner.

The man, who was wearing dark clothing and a dark colored bandana over his face, began shouting "your momma!" over and over again as he sliced open bags of junk food and other store merchandise.

He then fled the store on foot and disappeared in the alley between Orange Avenue and 4th Avenue to the north. The man did not steal any items from the store, and as such the incident is being investigated as an aggravated assault.

There was no information available about the man being connected with the gas station in any way. The investigation is ongoing.

YPD encourages anyone with information about this incident to call them at 373-4700 or 78-Crime to remain anonymous.

Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.