Machete-wielding suspect charged

A criminal complaint has been filed against a man accused of chasing and threatening several former co-workers with a machete.

Vincent Arroyo, 39, of Yuma,  was charged with six felonies: three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault.

Arroyo was arraigned in Yuma Justice Court on Thursday afternoon before Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart, who ordered his bond remain at the $1 million set at a previous hearing.

During Arroyo's court appearance, a victims advocate from Amberly's Place said while no victims were present, they hoped the defendant would continue to be held on that same bond amount.

In addition to appointing the Yuma County Public Defender's Office to represent Arroyo, the judge set his next court date — a preliminary hearing — for at 4 p.m. March 19.

Yuma police say Arroyo, who was distraught over recently losing his job at Associated Citrus, was arrested Tuesday morning in the business' parking lot in the 600 block of South Main Street after a series of incidents involving its employees and property.

According to Yuma police, Arroyo was armed with a machete during the course of the incident, in which he chased and threatened several former co-workers around the property.

He also allegedly caused criminal damage to one vehicle, along with some doors and windows on the property. The damage to the vehicle included several smashed windows.

Yuma police arrived on scene and tried to stop Arroyo, but he refused to comply with their orders, according to police. Officers used an electric stun gun on Arroyo and were able to safely arrest him.

Arroyo suffered minor injuries during the incident when he broke a window on one of the buildings. No Associated Citrus employees were injured in the incident.

Arroyo was booked into the Yuma County jail on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, threatening and intimidating, and criminal damage.

The Yuma police encourages anyone with information about the case to call the Yuma Police Department at 373-4700, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.