Man Charged with Machete Threat Against Wake Emergency workers

RALEIGH – Police charged a man with threatening city firefighters and Wake County emergency medical service workers with a machete Friday when they answered a call in a parking lot at 1823 Capital Blvd.

Grady Lee Smith, 55, of 1420 S. Wilmington St. in Raleigh, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, being intoxicated and disruptive and going to the terror of the people.

Details of the call, to which dispatchers sent fire department first responders and paramedics, were not available.

Smith came at the emergency personnel with the machete and shouted, “You better leave my wife alone,” according to an arrest warrant filed by police officers who rushed to the scene when the fire and medical workers called for help.

The warrant also charges that Smith challenged a fire department captain to a fight. A Wake County magistrate set Smith’s bail at $3,000.

PRIMARY AGENCY: Raleigh Fire Department

ASSISTING AGENCIES: Wake County EMS
INCIDENT TYPE: Medical Emergency