Fox Point Man Accused of Hitting Man in the Neck With a Machete

A 22-year-old Fox Point man is facing charges after he allegedly struck another man in the neck with a machete after the two got into an argument about the suspect hitting his girlfriend after a night of drinking beer.

Barrett Stern was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of battery. If convicted, he faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the police report:

At 2:19 a.m. Tuesday, officers were called to a home in the 7600 block of North Seneca Road and found a shirtless man sitting in the driveway with blood coming from his neck and arm while another shirtless man was standing over him. When officers approached the scene, they also spotted two women run from the area.

The bleeding man told police they were at the house drinking beer since 7 p.m. and Stern got into an argument and hit his girlfriend on the back. Upset about how Stern had been treating his girlfriend, the victim decided to confront him and the two got into a fight.

After rolling on the ground fighting, Stern then ran into the house and the victim and other man began to leave and walked to the driveway. Suddenly, Stern emerged from the house wielding a machete and baseball bat, then struck the victim in the neck with the blade and began fighting again.

Stern ran back into the house while the victim began to run down the street “freaking out” because he had been hit in the neck with the machete.

The men walked back to the driveway where one of the women tried treating his wounds with a bucket of water and rag before running off when officers arrived.

The victim suffered a three inch shallow wound to the neck and was bleeding more profusely from his arm wounds. He also told police Stern had held the machete to his neck in the past during other confrontations.

While police were speaking to the victims, Stern began walking towards the group before officers drew their weapons and told him to get on the ground, which he did and was then arrested.

Stern’s girlfriend was found walking down the street by police and first denied being at the house or knowing what had happened, saying she was walking home from a friend’s house. She then told officers that she didn’t have to tell them anything and denied being struck by Stern saying the victim was lying about the incident.

Officers discovered she was under 21 years old and ticketed her for underage drinking.

Stern is free on a $250 signature bond while awaiting trial.