In a harrowing confrontation captured on video, Las Vegas constable Mark Ruesch narrowly escaped serious injury when a machete got stuck in his clothing during an attempt to serve an eviction notice. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released bodycam footage revealing the aftermath of the incident, which occurred on Tuesday just after 9 a.m. near Sandhill and Sunset Road, as reported by FOX5 Vegas. Ruesch, along with a maintenance worker, faced a violent response from the evictee, Victor Vondrasek, who was armed with bricks and an 18-inch machete.
When Ruesch tried to deliver the eviction notice, he discovered Vondrasek had barricaded the door. A maintenance employee obtained a ladder to access the home from a balcony, where, they say Vondrasek attacked him with a knife, cutting his neck. Assistant Sheriff Bryan Peterson stated that upon hearing screams, Ruesch ascended the ladder and was then met with Vondrasek, who attempted to stab him with the machete, which became embedded in Ruesch's clothing, reported by News3LV. The assailant also hurled a landscaping brick at Ruesch's face, prompting the deputy constable to fire a shot, injuring Vondrasek.
The LVMPD confirmed that 63-year-old Ruesch, who is a deputy constable, did not have his body camera on at the time of the ordeal, as his office has yet to be equipped with the devices, according to Assistant Sheriff Peterson. This lack of crucial evidence has reinvigorated discussions about the necessity for all law enforcement officials to have access to body-worn cameras during their duties.
Vondrasek now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon on a first responder, battery on an older person, and resisting arrest. The apartment employee is said to be "stable," a manager revealed Friday. Ruesch's injuries, which include a broken nose and lacerations, have not deterred his wife from telling FOX5 that he is "OK."
The episode is under scrutiny by the LVMPD Critical Incident Review Team, which will examine use-of-force policy, tactics, and assess training procedures. The incident occurred shortly before Metro had its first police shooting of the year, involving a suspect and a firearm in a separate case. The swift handling of such critical incidents underscores the unpredictable and perilous nature of law enforcement work in the Las Vegas area.
