Columbia man accused of trying to steal car with machete

UPDATE 2/13: Lopez was charged with assault, armed criminal action and tampering with a motor vehicle.

According to the probable cause statement, the victim had to get stitches for his cut.

Lopez admitted to swinging the machete but claimed he did it in self-defense.

ORIGINAL STORY: Boone County deputies arrested a man Sunday night after he reportedly tried to steal a car by threatening the owner with a machete.

Manuel Grajalez-Lopez, 35, is currently in the Boone County Jail.

It happened in the 700 block of Demaret Drive around 7:15 Sunday night.

A man at the residence told deputies another man tried to steal his car as it was warming up outside of his home.

Grajalez-Lopez reportedly tried to drive off but slid on the ice and hit a pile of debris, which disabled and damaged the car. When confronted, that’s when he reportedly pulled out a large machete and threatened the victim. The man suffered a small cut.

Deputies found Grajalez-Lopez nearby with a machete in his possession.

He was arrested on suspicion of tampering with a motor vehicle, assault, armed criminal action and property damage.