A quiet Hollywood block turned chaotic early Sunday when, according to police, a 43-year-old man grabbed a machete and threatened his family and a responding officer, sending his wife and children scrambling out of their home. The disturbance unfolded just before 3:30 a.m. and left neighbors badly rattled.
The man, identified in an arrest report as Rene Matute Godoy, had been dropped off at the house by a friend and was "extremely intoxicated," his wife told officers. Police say he insulted her, tapped her on the arm and warned, "I'm going to hit you." Fearing what might come next, she took two of their four children into the front yard while the eldest hustled younger siblings into a locked bathroom. The family stayed at the scene until officers arrived, according to Local 10.
Investigators say Matute Godoy then grabbed a machete and began swinging it around the kitchen, smashing household items before heading back outside and damaging his wife's vehicle and the mailbox. The oldest child told police he heard his father yell in Spanish, "I'm going to kill you all." Officers say the man also threatened a responding officer before retreating back into the home, then eventually coming out again, at which point he was taken into custody.
He was booked on multiple counts, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, assault on an officer, criminal mischief and damaging property, child neglect and resisting an officer without violence. As of Tuesday morning, he did not appear in the online jail database. Those details are contained in an arrest report obtained by Local 10.
Charges and what they mean
Under state law, an assault "with a deadly weapon without intent to kill" is treated as aggravated assault, a serious felony that can bring prison time and other penalties. Offenses involving weapons or targeting law-enforcement officers receive particular scrutiny under the statute that defines aggravated assault and related crimes. For the formal legal language, see the Florida Statutes.
Neighbors react and local context
Violent domestic blowups involving machetes and other large blades are sadly not unheard of in South Florida. A recent neighbor dispute in Homestead that police say escalated into a machete and concrete block attack drew fresh attention to how fast arguments here can spiral. Over the years, Miami outlets have cataloged a string of machete-related attacks, many tied to domestic or neighborhood conflicts, the kind of calls officers routinely describe as among the most volatile. Recent coverage includes reporting by NBC6 South Florida and a retrospective from Miami New Times.
The Hollywood case remains under investigation, and prosecutors will decide whether to pursue formal charges. Police are asking anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Hollywood Police Department.
