State police at the Hazleton barracks charged a masked man who chased two juveniles on June 26 in the area of the Church Hill Mall, Hazle Township, and allegedly slashed one of them with a machete.

Police said Anthony J. Brotzman, 37, no address reported, is facing charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, loitering and prowling at night and disorderly conduct.

Police said at approximately 1 a.m. on the above date, they were on patrol in the area of the mall when troopers observed a woman standing in the center of the travel lane waving her hands and crying. They said the woman related her son and daughter were being chased by a man wearing a mask and swinging a machete.

Troopers said they observed the woman’s daughter run into the nearby Taco Bell for her safety, after which employees locked all surrounding doors. While searching the area, a juvenile male came running towards troopers stating he was slashed by an unidentified masked male. Troopers instructed him to enter their patrol vehicle for his safety.

Troopers located Brotzman in a nearby alley, observed him to have a mask in his left hand and a machete in his right hand, and took him into custody without incident.