Last Updated on October 12, 2022
The axe-wielding man who was arrested after trashing a New York City McDonalds and threatening customers has again been arrested and freed without bail after allegedly stealing bike and leading police on a chase.
Michael Palacios, 31, was arrested last month after he was filmed smashing up a Manhattan McDonalds after a fight with a group of patrons. Cell phone footage shows three men hitting a smirking Palacios, who then nonchalantly reached into a bag and retrieved an axe. The 31-year-old then proceeded to trash the McDonalds with the axe, smashing tables and light fixtures while waving the weapon at the people he was fighting with.
At a #McDonalds in #NewYork City last month, a man gets in a fight with a group & is punched repeatedly before becoming bored & getting out an axe from his bag. pic.twitter.com/PimlyPfobx
— Whatfinger (@Whatfinger1) October 5, 2022
At one point in the viral clip, Palacios pointed the weapon at a frightened woman. “Don’t be hanging out with punk-ass dudes because they’re going to get you into problems like this,” Palacious claims he told her in a statement to the New York Post.
“And after that, I shook her hand,” he said. “I understood it was a very intense situation, a lot of drama going on.”
Palacios, who had lost his job at a brewery the day before, left the McDonald’s on his bicycle and was soon arrested not far from the scene. He was arraigned on charges of criminal mischief and weapons possession and released without bail in the case, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Palacios told the New York Post that he was not “unhinged,” arguing that he acted in self-defense. “It’s not luck that they didn’t get chopped up. I didn’t chop them up because I didn’t want to,” said Palacios, adding that he carries the hatchet for protection.
After being freed without bail in that case, Palacios was again arrested less than a month later. This past Sunday, Palacios was approached by police after he was allegedly seen spraying graffiti on a building.
The 31-year-old then fled and stole a bicycle that was worked out front of a coffee shop. He attempted to ride off before he was eventually detained, causing minor damage to the bike as a result of the chase.
Palacios was charged with grand larceny, two counts of criminal mischief, possession of stolen property, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments.
He was again released without bail on October 10, the New York Post reported.