Man Held in Pretrial Detention for Chasing Two People with Machete and Hammer

Frederick Joseph Stack III, 60, was arrested on March 25 and charged with aggravated assault and resisting an officer without violence. 

Stack was reportedly trying to get into the residence of one of the victim’s neighbors, and she went over to make sure she was safe. Stack then chased the two victims while holding a machete in one hand and a hammer in the other.

Both victims told police that Stack narrowly missed them with his machete on several swings. 

Gainesville Police Department Officer Bobby White reported, “I made contact with [Stack] while he was standing next to a backpack containing the hammer and the machete. [Stack] ignored my commands to get on the ground, backed away from me, and took a fighting stance. He was detained after being tased.”

Judge David Kreider granted a pretrial detention motion that was filed by prosecutors.

Update | August 24, 2026:

In August 2025, Stack was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer without violence. Under the plea agreement that was accepted by Judge Robert Groeb, Stack received a time-served sentence.