Yesterday, in the county of Nandayure, district of Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rican Coast Guard and Police officials intervened when a 25-year-old Swedish man named Andersson wielded a machete and seemed poised for an attack.

Police believe he may have been under the effect of drugs, as neighbors recounted that the Swede, machete in hand, had been shouting that he was trying to kill some pigs he said he saw.

Because no one filed a complaint against the man, and he had not harmed anyone, police released him after a 5-hour detention.

But to their surprise, police were called again less than five hours later after the same man apparently verbally confronted the sales staff of a supermarket and made off with some drinks.

Police noted that this was quite a unique case for them. The events occurred in the sleepy Pacific beach town of Puerto Coyote de Nandayure.

Because Andersson was caught red-handed shop lifting, police after this second encounter with the Swede, sent him to the public prosecutor’s office for prosecution.

According to local police, Andersson has been apprehended on several previous occasions for drug use, thefts, fights, and other problems.

Police asked people to avoid using illegal drugs, as “the effects can lead to serious irreparable consequences.”