Fiancée defends Worcester man accused of swinging knife, bat at lifeguards

WORCESTER, Mass. — The fiancée of a 42-year-old man who’s accused of trying to attack two lifeguards is rushing to his defense.

Carlos Betancourt pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism and assault.

RELATED: Lifeguard transported, 4 suspects arrested after stabbing at Worcester’s Bell Pond

He was arrested on Wednesday night after disturbing allegations at the Lincoln Village pool house in Worcester.

Prosecutors said he rushed toward a 17-year-old lifeguard while swinging a knife. He’s then accused of grabbing a bat and swinging it at a 15-year-old lifeguard before smashing a glass door.

Investigators said the violent confrontation happened shortly after the lifeguards asked two kids to leave for misbehaving.

According to court documents, the suspect is the father of one of those kids.

“I promise on everything, it wasn’t supposed to be like that,” said the suspect’s fiancée. “I’m sorry for everything!”

The suspect’s fiancée, who declined to give her name, is the mother of both kids who were told to leave the pool house.

“This is now making it out to look way worse,” she cried. “The officer made it way worse and made us look like ignorant parents.”

Prosecutors said this isn’t the first time Betancourt has lashed out with violence. He’s recently accused of abusing his fiancée who has a restraining order against him.

Betancourt is currently being held without bail.

This is the second attack involving lifeguards in the city of Worcester this month. A 17-year-old lifeguard was stabbed at Bell Pond on the Fourth of July after telling a group to refrain from smoking and drinking.

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