Man faces charges in Boardman machete threat

BOARDMAN — A Youngstown man was to appear today in Mahoning County Area Court to face charges of felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon.

Ruben Garcia Jr., 24, of Hazeltine Avenue, is accused of threatening his girlfriend with a machete. Police were called about 11:15 p.m. Sunday to a house on Melbourne Avenue. The man involved, later identified as Garcia, had left the home, heading northbound on Market Street. Police stopped the car he was driving on Market.

The victim, 19, told police that she was sitting on the back deck of the Melbourne home with seven other people when Garcia called on her cell phone. Garcia then came to the house, slammed the machete into the deck railing next to her head and then put it against her neck, saying he would cut off her head, the report said.

The woman started to walk away with Garcia following. She said she tried to call 911 but that Garcia took the phone from her. He then put the machete into his car, called her a name and fled.