Police: Naked Man Waved Machete at People in Costco Parking Lot

A truck driver from Bay Shore was arrested Monday after police say he threatened bystanders and cops with a machete in the parking lot of the Nesconset Costco.

Numerous witnesses reported a naked man waving a machete at people in the parking lot, located at 3000 Middle Country Road, at about 1:05 p.m., police said.

The man, later identified as 37-year-old Jose Amaya, then barricaded himself inside the cab of the 2007 Freightliner tractor-trailer he had been operating for NYC Transport of East Orange, N.J., police said.

When officers Richard Regula, Christopher Tenbrink, Anthony Sepe, Jean Hutchinson and sergeants Keith Serper and Brian Michels, arrived on the scene, Amaya initially refused to exit the vehicle, police said.

When Amaya attempted to exit the vehicle with the machete in hand, the officers held the doors shut to contain Amaya, police said.

Amaya then opened a small window and tried to exit through the window and threatened the officers with the 20-inch machete, police said.

Regula, Tenbrink and Serper approached Amaya and got close enough to discharge a taser, police said. The officers then entered the cab, subdued Amaya and placed him into custody, police said.

No bystanders were injured and Amaya was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for evaluation, police said.

Amaya, who police said also lived in the Freightliner’s cab, was charged with menacing a police officer, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Tuesday.

Photo: Google Maps

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