Newton Man Arrested for Brandishing Machete During Traffic Incident

NEWTON, MA – A Newton man was arrested for reportedly wielding a machete following a collision in Watertown earlier this month.

Daniel Rufo, Jr., 55, was charged with malicious damage to a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in property damage, assault with a dangerous weapon and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

On July 11 around 2:45 p.m., police were dispatched to the Home Depot parking lot at Arsenal Mall for a report of a hit and run incident, according to Watertown Police Det. Lt. James O'Connor.

The alleged victim told officers that he was being tailgated by another vehicle as he drove down Arsenal Street. When he stopped at a stop sign in the front lot of Arsenal Mall, that vehicle pulled in front of him, he told police.

The vehicle then backed into the man's car, but when he attempted to get out to figure out what happened, the other driver emerged brandishing a machete and kicked the man's front door shut, O'Connor said.

"The victim said he was going to call the police, and [Rufo] said something to the effect of, 'I don't care,'" O'Connor said.

The driver then went back to his vehicle and fled the scene, according to police.

The alleged victim gave police the vehicle's license plate number and described the machete as approximately 18 inches in length.

Police identified the driver as Rufo and placed him under arrest at his home in Newton. Officers recovered an 18-inch machete from his vehicle.

Rufo was arraigned in Waltham District Court July 12.