Jersey City cops tipped to man with machete arrest him on weapons charges and a relative on obstruction charges in dramatic confrontation

Tuesday, July 06, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A 21-year-old Connecticut man was charged with weapons offenses and aggravated assault on a police officer after waving a machete and charging at officers when they tried to arrest him in Jersey City Saturday night, police said.

Michael Chal, of Hartford, Conn., was charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, unlawful possession of weapons, aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting arrest at 9:04 p.m. at a home on Armstrong Avenue, reports said.

Police responded to the house after getting an anonymous tip that someone was inside with a machete.

According to reports, when officers arrived, Chal's aunt told them her nephew had been drinking and had locked himself in a bedroom with a machete. Police removed the aunt, who was pleading with her nephew to drop the weapon.

Another relative, Noelia Chal-Reyes, 23 of Jersey City, was arrested on charges of obstruction and aggravated assault on a police officer after she tried to push and punch her way through police to gain access to Chal, reports said.

Chal grew agitated when the woman was arrested, according to police. One officer drew his weapon and demanded Chal drop the machete, which he did, reports said.

But after he dropped the machete and it was removed from the room, Chal charged at three officers, reports said.

Chal was arrested after a brief struggle with police, who found another machete in the room alongside the bed, reports said.