Man With Machete Prompts Utica Alert: ‘Stay Inside’

Update: Utica police say the man who was allegedly wielding a machete on city streets on Tuesday afternoon is undergoing a mental health evaluation. This after a several hour standoff at the man's home on Cottage Place. UPD officials say the man's identity will be released once he is officially charged. He'll likely face a felony-level criminal mischief charge for Tuesday's incident, police said, and is also sought on several warrants in Utica.

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Utica residents received an alert from authorities just after 12-noon on Tuesday telling them to 'Stay Inside...'

WIBX 950 has learned the incident involves a man who is armed with a machete. Video posted on social media from someone in the area of Hobart Street showed a man walking on the sidewalk with what appeared to be a large knife in his hand.

Utica Police could be heard telling people to get back into their homes as officers walked in the street behind a large shield.

At approximately 12:20 p.m. city residents received a second alert telling those, 'In the area of 600 Block of Cottage (Place) - Stay Inside Homes Due To Police Activity.'

WIBX 950 has learned the unidentified man is no longer walking the streets with the weapon, but is now inside of a home. Police have the home surrounded. Officers could be heard on a loud speaker out the side the home, asking the man to peacefully surrender. We'll update this story as more information becomes available.

The above photo was snapped by photographer Nancy L Ford at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon at a home on Cottage Place near Lincoln Ave.

The video below shows UPD entering the home:

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: This post is for informational purposes only. Any charges or accusations of wrongdoing mentioned in the article are only allegations and the reader is reminded that all persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.]