Police Arrest Machete-Wielding Man After Fight at Newark Airport, Officials Say

Port Authority police arrested a man who was waving a machete outside a terminal at Newark Liberty International Airport after a road rage brawl, officials said Wednesday.

Five men traveling in two vehicles outside the airport were involved in the fracas that occurred around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday and ended at Terminal C, according to a Port Authority police spokeswoman. Police rushed to quell the melee as one of the men pulled a machete, the spokeswoman said.

“One of the individuals involved in the physical altercation had pulled a machete from his vehicle and began waving it in an offensive manner in the vicinity of one of the officers,” PAPD spokeswoman Lenis Valens said.

An officer pepper-sprayed the man when he ignored commands to drop the weapon, according to the spokeswoman. The man still did not drop the machete until the officer pulled his gun and the suspect surrendered, officials said.

Port Authority police charged Yarian Diaz, 20, with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and resisting arrest, the spokeswoman said.

Three other men involved in the incident tried to flee in their vehicle, but were arrested at the airport exit, according to Valens. The others face charges including resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The arrests did not impact airport operations, the spokeswoman added.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at [email protected].

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