Manchester Machete Incident Prompts Heavy Police Response, Arrest Made

MANCHESTER, CT — A man being disruptive on Olcott Street in Manchester Monday night and Tuesday afternoon turned into two machete-wielding confrontations with police and mental health professionals.

The initial call to the neighborhood came in at about 6 p.m., Monday, according to an incident report. Because of the "aggressive behavior" being displayed by the man, multiple officers responded to the scene. He was shirtless and yelling profanities on the patio of a home and was pacing around in an "agitated state," according to an incident report.

The situation then escalated when the man retreated into the home, but came back out wielding a machete while "explicitly ordering the officers to leave," according to an incident report. He began swinging the machete while threatening both the officers "his own life," according to an incident report.

Officers set up a perimeter around the residence and, despite attempts to establish communication with the man, he refused to cooperate, according t0 an incident report.

He broke a second-floor window with the machete, according to an incident report.

He retreated into the home and refused to leave and, in efforts to "de-escalate the situation," and with no one else at home, police let him remain there and cleared the perimeter, according to an incident report.

Officers had been monitoring the immediate area through Monday night and into Tuesday morning, and another heavy police presence was in the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. Olcott Street, from Love Lane to Falknor Drive, was closed early Tuesday afternoon and a police car was positioned at Verplanck School.

The man was eventually identified at 57-year-old Horace Walker.

Police said a representative of the Capitol Region Mental Health Center visited his home Tuesday to conduct a welfare check, but the visit took a dangerous turn when Walker became agitated and again began brandishing the machete.

The mental health professional swiftly exited the premises and called police.

With a warrant in hand, police offered Walker the opportunity to surrender peacefully, but when he failed to comply, the Capitol Region Emergency Services Team responded, according to an incident report.

Following a lengthy standoff, Walker was successfully taken into custody and immediately transported to Manchester Memorial Hospital for evaluation where he currently remains under police supervision, a report indicates.

Walker is now facing charges that include second-degree breach of peace, first-degree threatening, and criminal attempt to assault a police officer. Should he remain in custody, Walker will appear in Manchester Superior Court Wednesday, police said.

Police issued a statement after the incident:

"The Manchester Police Department emphasizes its commitment to the safety and well-being of the community, including individuals experiencing mental health crises. The collaboration between law enforcement and mental health professionals in these situations is essential to ensure a peaceful resolution while providing the necessary support for those in need."