Columbus machete attack stemmed from fight over parking space, police say

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An argument over a parking space turned into an assault with a machete Monday afternoon, police said.

According to court documents, Columbus police responded to reports of a stabbing in the 300 block of Clarendon Avenue in the Central Hilltop neighborhood. There, at around 4:15 p.m., police said a man was bleeding from his left arm.

The victim told officers that he parked his car on the street in front of the home of Michael Lee, who approached the man and was reportedly upset that the car was parked in front of his home. The two argued over the parking spot before Lee allegedly went into his home and returned with a machete.

Lee then allegedly swung the machete at the victim, who suffered a cut on his left arm. Lee reportedly went back into his home and Lee called the police. The man identified Lee from a photo array and officers arrested him a short time later.

A Franklin County Municipal judge issued Lee a $10,000 bond on one count of felonious assault. He is next scheduled to appear in court on May 30.