Newport woman charged in machete attack

A Newport woman was arrested Tuesday after she allegedly swung a machete at a man.

Valerie V. Stone, 30, was charged with felony assault, disorderly conduct and vandalism. Police also noted an outstanding bench warrant from Third District Court.

No injuries were reported. According to a police report, somebody helped the man to safety and called 911.

Several officers were dispatched to Maple Avenue for a report of an argument, during which one person showed a knife or similar weapon.

"Upon my arrival, I drew my department issued hand gun and held it at the low ready," Newport Police Officer Michael Maggiacomo said in his report.

As he approached an apartment door he could hear commotion and arguing, Maggiacomo said in his report; Stone was handcuffed by other officers and Maggiacomo saw her seated on the stairs just outside of her apartment door. Stone's apartment door was open and he entered the apartment to look for alleged victims; another officer located a machete in the apartment, according to Maggiacomo's report.

Stone had allegedly yelled at a man from her apartment window then exited her apartment to confront him with a machete. The man told police she started swinging the machete at him and he backed up a flight of stairs.

"I observed there to be several gouge marks in the grey Trex staircase," Maggiacomo wrote in his report.

Stone was arraigned Tuesday in District Court; she did not enter pleas, which is typical for felony cases first heard in District Court. Bond was set at $20,000 with surety, which was not posted. Stone was sent to the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston and a screening is scheduled for May 7.