OAKLAND PARK, Fla. — Detectives in Broward County are searching for a man caught on camera violently swinging a sword at a jogger over a plastic dump cart last month.
"They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but is a plastic dump cart found in a bulk trash pile worth going to jail for?" the sheriff's office said in a written statement.
Video of the attacked was recorded by the victim’s home surveillance system on the evening of July 15 in Oakland Park.
The sheriff's office said the victim had gone for a jog around his neighborhood when he stumbled upon a bulk trash pile in front of a vacant home near Prospect Road and Northwest 11th Terrace.
The jogger noticed the pile had caught the eye of a man in a white, older-model van who was already perusing through the items.
Investigators said the jogger stopped and decided to look around as well and found a black, heavy-duty dump cart he decided to stake claim to.
The other man became upset, feeling he had rights over the pile since he was looking through it first. The two exchanged words, but the jogger took the cart and pushed it home.
Once the jogger arrived at this home, he realized he was followed by the man, who was carrying what appeared to be a red stick.
As the suspect got closer to the jogger, video shows him remove a long sword from a red sheath. Video shows that he then began swinging it at the jogger as he tried to wrestle the cart away.
Investigators said the jogger eventually told the man the attack was being recorded by a surveillance camera. The attacker saw the camera and retreated but threatened to return, said the sheriff's office.
After the altercation, the jogger left the cart sitting in his front yard. A few minutes later, the jogger spotted a woman approach and drag the cart away from his yard as she flung insults at the jogger. Detectives believe the attacker and the woman know each other.
If you recognize the sword-wielding man or the woman seen dragging the cart away in the video, contact BSO Violent Crimes Unit Detective Tiberio Barbosa at 954-321-4278. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at browardcrimestoppers.org.
Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
