Man Accused of Assault with Machete in Oakdale

A St. Paul man faces a felony assault charge after he allegedly poked another man in the face with a machete during a July 20 incident at the Tanners Lake boat launch in Oakdale.

Raymond Guzard Aaron, 28, told police he got into an argument with another man after he was called a racial slur but did not brandish the machete during the verbal altercation, according to the criminal complaint.

The alleged victim told police Aaron pulled the machete from a backpack and poked him in the face, causing a small cut, and also poked him in the chest, the complaint says.

One of Aaron’s friend’s initially diffused the situation, but after the other man got into his car, Aaron came over again. The alleged victim got a baseball bat and got out of his vehicle when the friend again intervened, according to the complaint.

Police found the machete in Aaron’s vehicle; it had a red substance on the tip consistent with dried blood, the complaint says.

After being arrested, Aaron told police he was in a portable toilet and heard people talking about him and confronted the other man, but said he at no point swung the weapon or pointed it at anyone, according to the complaint.