CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man is in custody on numerous charges for stabbing a man with a machete in a Saturday night attack that police said appeared to have been racially motivated.

Anthony Robert Hammond, 34, is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail for felony charges of aggravated mayhem, battery with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, felony resisting executive officer, hate crime and two outside agency felony arrest warrants, and two misdemeanor charges of battery on a person, and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.

Sgt. Travis Lenz said that just before 8:15 p.m. Saturday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the Beachfront Apartments on Lakeshore Drive for a report of a male victim who had been stabbed with a machete.

Upon their arrival, officers discovered one black male victim who told them that a white male adult – later identified as Hammond – had been yelling racial slurs at numerous people located in the parking lot of the apartment complex, Lenz said.

Lenz said Hammond returned to his apartment, and then exited while holding a large machete. As he continued yelling racial slurs at the victim, Hammond struck the victim on the shoulder with the machete, causing serious bodily injury.

After the attack, Hammond retreated into his apartment, Lenz said.

The victim was transported from the scene by paramedics from Lake County Fire Protection District Station 70 to Adventist Health Hospital Clearlake, according to Lenz.

Lenz said Clearlake Police officers established a perimeter around the apartment to prevent Hammond’s escape and proceeded to evacuate all nearby residences.

After residents were evacuated, officers approached and were able to view through a window one male adult asleep on the couch, and Hammond attempting to conceal himself inside his refrigerator, Lenz said.

After being unsuccessful in concealing himself, Hammond ran into the rear bedroom of his residence, out of sight, Lenz said.

Lenz said officers were able to remove the male subject who was asleep on the couch from the residence but Hammond would not exit the residence.

Officers could see a pistol case which was open inside of the residence, yet did not view the firearm. Lenz said that led officers to believe Hammond was now armed with a pistol.

The Clearlake Police Department Detective Unit responded to the scene and began authoring a search warrant, which would allow officers to enter the residence, arrest Hammond and search his residence for any evidence related to the crime, Lenz said.

After a standoff that lasted several hours, Lenz said Hammond eventually complied with officers’ commands and exited the residence, where he was placed under arrest.

During the search of the residence, officers located the machete that was used during the commission of the crime. However, Lenz said officers did not locate any firearms inside the residence.

During transport to the Lake County Jail, Hammond threatened to kill the transporting officer and his family upon his release from jail, Lenz said.

The victim’s name is being withheld at this time due to the severity of the crime, Lenz said.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact Officer Joseph Myers at 707-994-8251, Extension 502.

Although it is encouraged for witnesses to identify themselves, those who wish to remain anonymous may do so, Lenz said.

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