Police: NH man arrested for chasing neighbor with 36-inch sword

MANCHESTER, N.H. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A New Hampshire man was arrested after he brandished a sword and chased his neighbor down the street during a dispute, police said.

Officers responded to the rear of a residence located at 319 Central St. in Manchester at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for a report of threat with a machete.

When officers arrived, they were met by a 39-year-old Lake Avenue resident and his 19-year-old girlfriend who claimed they had been threatened by their neighbor who was armed with a machete or sword.

The couple told police the suspect began yelling at them from his third floor residence while they were outside. The argument allegedly escalated, and the suspect went back into his apartment and returned moments later with the sword.

The suspect then briefly chased his Lake Avenue neighbor with the sword, the couple said.

As the suspected headed back to the residence, he allegedly stopped and pointed the sword at the girlfriend and warned her to keep her boyfriend away.

Police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Derek Russell. He has been charged with two counts of felony criminal threatening.

Neighbors told police they had seen Russell armed with a sword chasing the neighbor through the parking lot towards Lake Avenue.

A sword with a 36 inch blade was recovered by police.

Cox Media Group