WORCESTER, Mass. - Following an incident involving a Worcester man allegedly trying  to stab a lifeguard and swinging a bat at another at the Lincoln Village pool house, the City of Worcester has spoken out.

It’s the second incident involving a lifeguard in the city this month. On July 4, a city lifeguard was stabbed at Bell Hill Pond beach. 

In a released statement from a city spokesperson, the City of Worcester responded to the recent pair of incidents, saying: “Lifeguards in any setting, public or private, are there to create a safe and welcoming environment for all people using their facilities. Any action that threatens the wellbeing of those lifeguards is appalling and unacceptable. We are glad to hear the victims in this case were uninjured and we thank and appreciate all lifeguards for the work they do in keeping people safe at beaches, pools and other water facilities. It is an often thankless task, one made much more challenging when an incident like this occurs."

The statement continued, "We owe it to those lifeguards, many of whom are young adults working a summer job during high school or college, to create as safe an environment for them as possible, and that begins with zero tolerance for any violence or threatening behavior toward them.”

On Wednesday evening, police say 42-year-old Carlos Betancourt confronted the two lifeguards after they told a group of kids, including Betancourt’s children, to leave. 

Police say he eventually took out a knife and swung it at a 17-year-old male lifeguard who was not hurt. He then left and allegedly returned with a baseball bat, swinging it at a 15-year-old female lifeguard and missing.

Betancourt then smashed the front glass door of the pool house with the bat and fled the scene, according to police. He was eventually located and placed under arrest. He is being charged with  two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and vandalism.

Management at Lincoln Village say Thursday the lifeguard staff members are doing okay after the incident.