Man arrested for threatening women with hatchet at Eye Associates

RIO RANCHO — A man was detained for allegedly threatening women with a hatchet at Eye Associates of New Mexico on Wellspring Avenue.

Aaron Marler, 47, of Albuquerque, was arrested Oct. 13 for three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a criminal complaint filed in the 13th Judicial District Court in Sandoval County.

The three victims told police while they were on the way to the optical shop and clinic they encountered an SUV that pulled out in front of them, the report states, which then pulled off the road, allowing them to pass, and then aggressively followed the women into Rio Rancho and to the Eye Associates.

As they were attempting to exit the vehicle, the SUV pulled into the parking lot and parked to the right of the vehicle. The male driver, later identified as Marler, exited the vehicle and spoke to one of the women, who was assisting another from the vehicle, stating that driver in the victims' car had tried to kill him, it reads.

They saw Marler enter the back of his SUV and all got back into the vehicle. They said they called 911 as Marler walked around the back of the vehicle with a silver hatchet with a wooden handle and began tapping the window with the hatchet. They said he appeared to be speaking but that they couldn't hear him because the windows were rolled up.

The driver left the parking lot and drove to Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, where she was later contacted by officers.

Officers found Marler at the Eye Associates with his hands up and the hatchet laying nearby on the ground.

If he is convicted, Marler could face up to five years in prison. However, Marler was released with conditions Oct. 14.