New York ( CNN ) -- A bit actor who appeared on ABC 's `` Ugly Betty '' series has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon after police said they found him wielding a 3-foot long sword near the body of his dead mother . Police arrested Michael Brea , 31 , after responding to neighbors ' complaints of shouting coming from a Brooklyn apartment that Brea shared with his mother , New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said . Neighbors described hearing screams and loud voices coming from the apartment early Tuesday . `` I heard the scream for help . 'Call 9-1-1 ' , '' said Clinton Clare , a neighbor who lives below the Brea apartment . `` It 's like something you would hear in the movies , '' said neighbor Vernon Bent . `` A scream , like , 'Ahhhh ' . It 's more feminine , fear , a curling scream . '' The victim , Yannick Brea , suffered multiple stab wounds and was found in a kneeling position in the apartment 's bathroom , police said . She was pronounced dead at the scene . Neighbors said they heard chanting coming from Brea 's apartment after the screaming had subsided . Bent said he heard what he believed to be Brea 's voice `` repeating certain words , religious words . '' Bent quoted the voice as saying , `` Jerusalem , Aaron , Moses . Jesus said pick up your bed and walk . '' When authorities entered the apartment , in Brooklyn 's Prospect Heights neighborhood , they found Michael Brea sitting in a chair with the sword in his hand , the police spokesman said . Brea 's father , Marcel Brea , said the sword allegedly used to kill his former wife is a martial arts weapon that he used for martial arts practice . The elder Brea said that he refuses to believe his son committed the alleged crime . `` My son is not a violent person , a peaceful person , '' he said . `` My son would have done anything for his mother . I do n't know what happened , '' he added . `` My son did not kill his mother . '' The elder Brea said his son -- a Freemason -- had attended a Freemason 's meeting at a Masonic Lodge in Harlem , on the day of the incident . He said he later recieved a phone call from his son , complaining of a headache . The elder Brea -- who is also a Freemason -- said he told his son just hours before the incident occurred to `` say your prayers [ and ] lay in your bed and your headache will go away . '' Neighbors said police arrived at the building quickly following reports of a disturbance , but questioned how long it took authorities to actually enter the apartment . Neighbor Gregory Clare , who lives in Brea 's apartment building , told CNN affiliate NY1 that `` for about 45 minutes , [ police ] did n't follow through [ in entering the apartment ] . '' `` It would 've made a big difference , '' he said . `` I think Miss Brea would still be here [ had police responded sooner ] . '' But New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a news conference officers were following police procedures . `` When there is a barricade situation , responding patrol officers , if possible , wait for emergency service officers to come , '' he said . Brea is being held at the Bellvue Hospital Psychiatric Ward , after having first been evaluated at Kings County Hospital , according to the spokesman . Yannick Brea had worked as housekeeper at a Marriott Hotel in Manhattan , New York . `` We were shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely death of our housekeeping associate , Ms. Yannick Brea , '' said Kathleen Duffy , spokesperson for NYC Marriott Hotels . `` Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ms. Brea 's family and friends , '' she said . The elder Brea said he is in the process of hiring a lawyer to defend his son .
NEW : The long sword allegedly used is a martial arts weapon , suspect 's father says . NEW : Brea attended a meeting the night of the incident , later complained of headaches . Brea , an actor who appeared on NBC 's ` ` Ugly Betty , '' is charged with 2nd - degree murder . Police say they found him with a very long sword near his dead body .