COLONIE, N.Y. -- A man accused of cutting off his neighbor's finger appeared in court Tuesday.

Mcgregor Octave pleaded not guilty to an assault charge in Colonie Town Court.

Police say it all started in the Central Crossings trailer park in Colonie Monday night.

Authorities say Octave believed his mail was being withheld by his neighbor.

They say he then allegedly cut off that neighbor's pinkie finger with a machete.

The victim was rushed to the hospital, and officers arrested Octave a short time later.

A lieutenant with the Colonie Police Department says using a machete in an assault is unusual.

"The victim interceded on his wife's behalf, and then it escalated from there. There was some verbal interaction as well as a physical altercation, ended up with the defendant retrieving a machete from his trailer, and then chasing the victim back to his trailer where the assault took place,” said Lt. Robert Winn.

Octave is currently in the Albany County Jail.