Police say Hills man brandished machete during family fight

UPDATE: A 33-year-old Hills man was arrested on three charges of assault, including one of assault while displaying a weapon, and two counts of obstruction of emergency communication after authorities say he displayed a machete during a confrontation with his family in Solon on Wednesday morning.

Reports indicate that Todd A. Woodburn, of 312 E. Main Street, got into a physical confrontation with his family members at 122 N. Market Street in Solon at approximately 6:47 a.m. on Wednesday.

During the confrontation, Woodburn allegedly injured several family members and later displayed a machete before throwing it against the house.

The events unfolded after Woodburn allegedly entered into a physical altercation with his father. The man had injuries to his arm and wrist, scrapes, cuts, and a possible broken bone.

Woodburn also allegedly struck his mother in the mouth, causing pain, swelling and a small cut to her lip and injured his sister as she was attempting to break up the fight, striking her in the mouth.

None of the injuries from the incident appeared to have been caused by the machete, Johnson County Sheriff's Office records indicate.

During the confrontation Woodburn allegedly destroyed his father's cellphone and the house phone, which he took from his mother while she was dialing 911, so that the authorities could not be contacted.

The emergency call was eventually placed by another party who notified the Sheriff's office of what was happening at the address.

Reports indicate that Woodburn allegedly admitted to officers that he had spit in his mother's face, had brought the machete to the residence and had thrown it against the house.

Officers also learned that Woodburn had also reportedly made a comment that he was going to kill his parents.

Woodburn was booked at the Johnson County Jail at 11:01 a.m. on Wednesday afternoon and was released at 1:50 p.m. after posting a $4,600 bond.

Nicolette Woodburn, the wife of Todd Woodburn, says that the events that transpired on Wednesday did not necessarily happen as they may seem.

Rather, she says that Wednesday's incident occurred as a part of a larger family feud that has been taking place for an extended period of time.

“Todd is not a violent person,” Nicolette Woodburn said.

According to Nicolette Woodburn, the family has been fighting over the rightful ownership a small trailer containing electronic equipment for several months weeks.

After several attempts to reach out to retrieve the equipment and frustration with wait period in the civil court system, Nicolette Woodburn says that her husband went to Solon to get the equipment out of the trailer.

“Todd felt that he was in a corner and went with the machete so that he could get into the trailer,” Nicolette Woodburn said. “We needed to get the equipment because we need it on a day-to-day basis for work.”

Nicolette Woodburn says that her husband was confronted by his father after trying to load a piece of equipment into his truck, and the fight escalated.

“Everyone was yelling that they hated each other and doing things family shouldn't do - it's horrible,” Nicolette Woodburn said.

According to Nicolette Woodburn, the families plan to file lawsuits against each other for ownership of the trailer and currently have no contact.