‘What the f— are you looking at?’: 78-year-old landlord viciously slashes tenant with machete during argument over trash, cops say
A 78-year-old Miami landlord is facing serious criminal charges after police say he attacked one of his tenants with a machete during a heated argument about trash and items that needed to be discarded from a shared residence. Authorities allege the confrontation escalated rapidly, leaving the tenant with a deep wound that required hospital treatment and resulting in the landlord’s arrest on a felony charge.
The suspect was identified by police as Victor Rodriguez-Polledo. He was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon following the violent incident that occurred in Miami’s Shenandoah neighborhood.
Argument Over Trash Turns Violent
According to police reports, the incident took place on Wednesday evening at a residence located in the 1900 block of Southwest 17th Street in Miami. Officers responded after receiving a 911 call reporting that a landlord had allegedly attacked a tenant with a machete.
Investigators said the dispute began when Rodriguez-Polledo and his tenant were discussing items around the property that needed to be thrown away. What started as a disagreement over trash allegedly escalated into a violent confrontation.
The victim later told police that during the argument, Rodriguez-Polledo became enraged and shouted at him in Spanish.
Alleged Threat Before the Attack
According to the arrest affidavit, the landlord allegedly yelled, “What the f— are you looking at?” before adding, “You’ll see what I have for you.” The statements were reportedly made moments before the violence unfolded.
Police say the tenant then walked outside the home. However, the confrontation did not end there.
Landlord Allegedly Retrieved a Machete
Investigators allege that Rodriguez-Polledo went back inside the residence and returned carrying a machete. According to the victim’s account, the landlord then followed him outside while armed with the large bladed weapon.
Authorities say Rodriguez-Polledo swung the machete toward the tenant.
First Blow Strikes Tenant
The victim reported that the first strike hit him in the shoulder and arm area. One report indicated that the tenant was struck with the back side of the blade during the initial swing.
Police said Rodriguez-Polledo then allegedly swung the machete a second time.
Deep Wrist Laceration During Second Swing
The tenant attempted to protect himself by raising his right arm and hand. While doing so, he was struck and suffered a severe cut to his wrist. Investigators described the wound as a deep laceration measuring approximately three inches in depth.
The victim also suffered additional cuts and scratches during the confrontation, according to police and medical personnel.
Struggle Erupts as Tenant Tries to Disarm Landlord
After being wounded, the tenant reportedly fought back in an attempt to prevent further injury.
According to police, he pushed Rodriguez-Polledo against a fence while trying to take away the machete. The struggle intensified and both men eventually fell to the ground.
Witness Steps In
As the two men wrestled over the weapon, a witness intervened to stop the violence and remove the machete from the situation. During the intervention, the witness suffered a minor cut to the hand.
Authorities said the witness declined extensive medical treatment despite the injury.
Police Find Victim Bleeding at Scene
When officers arrived at the property, they found the victim bleeding from his right arm and wrist. Police said he was attempting to control the bleeding by holding a piece of clothing against the wound.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and transported the injured tenant to HCA Florida Mercy Hospital for treatment.
Doctors treated the victim for the deep wrist laceration along with other cuts and abrasions suffered during the encounter.
Blood-Stained Machete Recovered
During the investigation, police searched the property and recovered a machete that allegedly had blood on it. Authorities located the weapon behind the residence and collected it as evidence.
The recovery of the machete became a significant piece of evidence in the criminal case against Rodriguez-Polledo.
Arrest and Criminal Charge
Following the investigation, officers arrested Rodriguez-Polledo and transported him to jail. Authorities charged him with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a serious felony offense under Florida law.
Statement to Investigators
Police reports indicate that after being advised of his rights in Spanish, Rodriguez-Polledo agreed to speak with investigators. However, the contents of his statement were redacted from publicly released documents, leaving the details of his explanation undisclosed.
Held Without Bond
Following his arrest, Rodriguez-Polledo was booked into the Miami-Dade County jail system. Jail records showed that he was being held without bond as the criminal case moved forward.
Authorities indicated that he was scheduled to appear before a judge shortly after the incident to face the charge stemming from the alleged machete attack.
Case Highlights Serious Escalation of Landlord-Tenant Dispute
The incident demonstrates how a disagreement over household trash and discarded items allegedly spiraled into a violent encounter involving a deadly weapon. According to investigators, what began as an argument inside a Miami residence ended with a tenant suffering significant injuries, a witness receiving a minor wound, and a 78-year-old landlord facing a felony aggravated battery charge. As the criminal proceedings continue, authorities are expected to rely on witness statements, physical evidence, medical records, and the recovered machete as part of the prosecution’s case.
