A Paisley man was arrested at his home Monday for allegedly threatening a barbecue vendor with a machete because he did not like the location.
A deputy responded to Paisley Discount Store on the evening of Jan. 25 to meet with 56-year-old William Bowles Harvey regarding an altercation that happened at an undisclosed street corner, according to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Harvey advised that he had a problem with the people selling barbecue at the corner because they were there every day, and he did not think they should be. So, he pulled up at a stop sign on the corner and got into a verbal altercation with a male victim that led to him stepping out of his vehicle with a machete. When the deputy stated he was going to the incident location, Harvey described the victim that he was having problems with, the report said.
The deputy then left and met with the male victim who advised that Harvey pulled up to the stop sign on Wednesday. He proceeded to yell racial slurs and told him to go find a new location, the report said.
Furthermore, the victim recalled that when Harvey drove by him on Thursday, he stood up and asked Harvey what the problem was. Harvey responded by calling him a racial slur and threatening to kill him. He again stepped out of his car with a machete, and despite his fear, the victim did not retreat, the report said.
The victim told Harvey, “If you feel that way, come on.” Harvey then got back into his car and left the scene. A female witness described this vehicle as a white Kia, the report said.
The report also noted that Harvey stated he got out of his vehicle with the machete because the victim walked toward his car. However, the victim advised he never entered the roadway. They both made consistent statements that Harvey got out of his car and pulled out the machete, the report said.
The deputy tried to meet with Harvey again after interviewing the victim but was unable to find him. He did not return to his home, and his phone had been turned off, the report said.
Harvey was ultimately found at his home, located at 44007 Sterling Drive, and arrested Monday morning on charge of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. The Tennessee native was transported to the Lake County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.
