‘I was crying’: Family with young son run to escape men with machetes at family park

COLUMBIA, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - A family in Connecticut says they are still trying to get over a scary experience that happened to them while they were enjoying an afternoon at an area park.

The Anderson family says they were playing frisbee with their 7-year-old son, Rayden, on Monday when they were suddenly facing two men emerging from the nearby woods armed with machetes and plastic bags.

Mara Anderson, the mother involved, described the event as surreal.

“It’s overwhelming just talking about it because nothing like this happens in this town,” Anderson said.

The Anderson family said they quickly ran to their truck to keep their son safe while calling 911.

Police said they were called to the Recreation Fields on Hennequin Road that afternoon and ended up tracking down the two men in question on Route 66.

The suspects, later identified as Benjamin Deleon-Chach, 43, and Fabian Simijah-Tu, 47, have been charged with breach of peace in the second degree.

Deleon-Chach was additionally charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failing to maintain a proper lane, and operating a vehicle without a license.

Reflecting on what happened, Rayden expressed his fear.

“It was very scary … I was crying,” he said. “I want to know what happened so I can feel comfortable going back to the park.”

Anderson urged others to stay vigilant.

“People have crazy motives,” she said.

Deleon-Chach and Simijah-Tu are scheduled to appear in court on July 31.

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