GLOUCESTER — Chief Edward Conley reports that the Gloucester Police Department arrested a man who threatened an officer with a machete Thursday evening.
TROY HACKNEY, AGE 40, OF WORTHINGTON was arrested and charged with:
Assault With a Dangerous Weapon
Threats to Commit a Crime
Disorderly Conduct
Resisting Arrest
At 9:50 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, a Gloucester Police officer patrolling in the Lanes Cove area observed two vehicles parked illegally side by side facing the water. The officer pulled up behind the vehicles and asked about their registration information.
As he was doing so, a man, later identified as HACKNEY, exited one of the vehicles holding a machete and began to approach the officer while making verbal threats. The officers ordered HACKNEY to drop the weapon and not come any closer, but HACKNEY allegedly disregarded these commands and continued to approach and threaten the officer.
As HACKNEY continued to approach, the officer retrieved his department issued pepper spray and ultimately used it to subdue HACKNEY and take him into custody with the support of an arriving backup officer.
“This incident is an example of remarkable restraint and deescalation by an officer when confronted by an individual who posed a very serious threat to his safety,” Chief Conley said. “This officer’s confident, mindful approach protected both he and the suspect from potentially suffering serious harm.”
HACKNEY was arraigned in Gloucester District Court and subsequently held on $2,000 bail, and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
