Repo Man Slashed with Machete During Repossession

Defense Claims Recovery Agent Pepper-Sprayed Suspect Before Violent Confrontation and Police Chase

Brockton, MA – August 25, 2026 – A vehicle repossession erupted into violence Monday morning when a Massachusetts man allegedly slashed a recovery agent with a machete, leaving the agent with serious injuries before reportedly fleeing and leading police on a chase.

Police identified the accused as 35-year-old Wonder Estiverne of Brockton, who has pleaded not guilty.

The incident occurred sometime before noon Monday on Curve Street in Brockton as am unidentified 42-year-old recovery agent working for an unknown company was attempting to repossess a gray Honda Accord.

According to police, responding officers found the recovery agent suffering from a severe laceration and bleeding heavily from his arm. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The man was taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center for treatment, police said. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Police said video from the recovery company showed Estiverne becoming involved in a verbal confrontation with the agent before allegedly retrieving a machete from the vehicle and swinging it, striking the agent in the arm.

But Estiverne’s defense presented a different account of how the confrontation unfolded.

Defense Says Agent Used Pepper Spray

During Estiverne’s court appearance, his defense claimed that the recovery agent pepper-sprayed Estiverne in the face, temporarily blinding him.

The defense further argued that Estiverne did not intentionally cut the recovery agent.

That claim adds another layer to an incident that apparently continued even after the physical confrontation ended.

Tow Truck Rolls into a Tree

According to police, Estiverne allegedly got into the recovery agent’s tow truck and drove it forward in an effort to free his Honda Accord.

Police said he then left the tow truck in gear, allowing the unattended truck to roll across the street and strike a tree.

Estiverne allegedly drove away in the Honda.

Police: Chase Reached 60 MPH and Oncoming Traffic

What followed, according to police, was considerably more than simply leaving the scene.

Police said Estiverne initially refused to stop and eventually came to a halt across from West Middle School. Officers reported seeing him reaching around his seat before he allegedly accelerated away again at a high rate of speed.

According to the police account reported by The Boston Globe, Estiverne crossed the double-yellow line and swerved into oncoming traffic while reaching speeds of approximately 60 mph. Officers ultimately terminated their pursuit when Estiverne allegedly continued driving against traffic in a congested area.

Massachusetts State Police later apprehended Estiverne. Other reporting indicates that he made it as far as Canton before his arrest.

Charges Filed

Court records cited by The Boston Globe show Estiverne was charged with:

Assault and battery with a dangerous weapon
Malicious damage to a motor vehicle
Negligent operation of a motor vehicle
Failure to stop for police
Leaving the scene of property damage

Police also cited him for alleged speeding and a marked-lanes violation.

Estiverne pleaded not guilty.

Repo Man Slashed with Machete During Repossession — Wonder Estiverne at his court hearing – Image source Boston 25 News

He was ordered held on $10,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on September 10.

The competing accounts of what happened during the repossession, including the defense claim that pepper spray was used before the machete injury, will now be left for the criminal case to sort out.

What is undisputed is that an attempted vehicle repossession on a Brockton street ended with a recovery agent hospitalized, a tow truck against a tree and the vehicle owner under arrest miles away.

The charges against Estiverne are allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.