Suspect Armed with Machete Pokes Neighbor in Chest and Damages Door
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to the report of a person with a weapon call. After speaking with the victim, Deputies located and detained the suspect, a neighbor of the victim. Through the investigation, they developed probable cause to arrest the suspect. Lacking consent to recover the weapon used (a 2-3 foot machete), Deputies obtained a search warrant and located the machete under a bed in the suspect’s residence. The machete was seized as evidence, and the suspect was booked into jail.
On February 17, 2025, at approximately 8:10 pm, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported person with a weapon at an apartment building in the 12300 block of E. Main Avenue.
Deputies contacted the caller/victim, who explained that at approximately 7:50 pm, a neighbor he knows as “Bubba” knocked on his apartment door. The victim opened the door and found “Bubba,” later identified as 65-year-old Rodrigo P. Farnacio, holding a machete. Farnacio said something like, where’s my $10? The victim said he didn’t know what Farnacio was talking about and suddenly Farnacio hit his door with the machete.
The victim attempted to close his door, but Farnacio was able to stick the blade of the machete through the opening, preventing the door from completely closing. The victim tried to avoid the blade, but Farnacio poked him in the center of his chest with the blade. Finally, the victim grabbed a cup and threw it out the door, hitting Farnacio, which caused him to step back. The victim closed and locked his door but heard Farnacio hit his door with the machete again.
The victim told Deputies that he had not invited Farnacio to his apartment nor permitted him to enter or damage his property. The victim explained that Farnacio’s unprovoked aggression and assaultive behavior caused him to fear for his life.
Deputies observed damage to the victim’s door, a red mark on the victim’s chest consistent with being poked by a hard object, and a red scratch mark below his throat, in addition to other evidence that corroborates his account of the incident.
Two witnesses also gave similar versions of the assault.
Deputies knocked on Farnacio’s door and heard a male voice say he would not leave the apartment. The male also could be heard saying something like, “Yeah, something happened tonight. Business is business.”
Deputies eventually coaxed Farnacio into exiting the apartment and safely detained him. After being advised of his rights and agreeing to answer questions, Farnacio said he lent the victim $10 earlier in the day. This evening, after drinking some alcohol, he became upset because the victim had not repaid him yet. He went to the victim’s apartment and asked him for the money. The victim said he didn’t have it, and he tried to grab the blade of the machete and then began to close his door. Farnacio said he was angry, so he hit the victim’s door. Farnacio refused to give Deputies consent to enter his apartment and retrieve the machete.
Deputies requested and were granted a search warrant. At approximately 10:50 pm, Deputies served the warrant and found the machete underneath a bed. They seized the machete as evidence.
Farnacio was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Assault 2nd Degree, Burglary, and Malicious Mischief 3rd Degree.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Suspect Armed with Machete Pokes Neighbor in Chest and Damages Door" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7