Pueblo police respond to man with machete, find suspect passed out

(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) said a suspect, who allegedly chased and threatened a man with a machete before barricading himself inside the victim’s house and leading to a lengthy standoff is now in custody after PPD’s SWAT team found the suspect passed out.

According to PPD, officers responded to a report of a suspect with a machete on Wednesday, June 26 just after 2:30 p.m. in the 3400 Block of O’Neal Avenue, just west of Lake Minnequa and north of Pueblo Boulevard.

When officers arrived, they learned that the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Josiah Velasquez, had called the victim the night before and said he needed a place to sleep. The next day, when the victim told Velasquez that he needed to leave, Velasquez apparently brought out a machete and started chasing the victim out of the house and down the street while threatening him.

The victim was able to call the police after he ran to the area of O’Neal Avenue and Gladiola Street. According to PPD, Velasquez then barricaded himself inside the victim’s home and began breaking property and threatening police with large knives.

After a lengthy standoff with SWAT and negotiators, search and arrest warrants were granted, and when SWAT team members entered the home, they found Velasquez passed out inside.

PPD took Velasquez into custody without further incident, and after a medical clearance, he was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center.

Velasquez now faces several charges, including Felony Menacing, Restraining Order Violation, and Criminal Mischief.

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