An 85-year-old Oregon man is being praised after authorities say he stepped into a violent confrontation to help save a young woman from an attempted kidnapping outside his home.
According to the New York Post, the frightening encounter unfolded the morning of May 8 in a mobile home neighborhood in Medford, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators said the elderly resident heard a woman screaming nearby and rushed outside to see what was happening.
When he arrived, deputies said he found 42-year-old Matthew Hokulii Aranda allegedly trying to force a 25-year-old caretaker into submission while armed with a taser.
The elderly man confronted Aranda, giving the woman a chance to break free and run.
Authorities said Aranda allegedly used the taser on the Good Samaritan during the struggle, but the distraction bought enough time for the victim to escape.
Deputies said the suspect then chased after the woman while carrying a large hunting knife.
The victim managed to reach her car and jump inside moments before Aranda could catch her, according to investigators.
As she attempted to flee, Aranda allegedly leaped onto the hood of the vehicle.
Body camera footage later released by the sheriff’s office showed officers finding Aranda injured and hiding in nearby bushes after the woman drove away.
Authorities said the suspect suffered a broken leg after being thrown from the car while the victim sped off.
Video showed deputies pulling the injured suspect from the bushes as he cried out about his injuries before officers placed him in handcuffs.
Investigators said Aranda had allegedly posed as a utility worker before the attack.
Dressed in a plain white shirt and khaki pants, he reportedly spent hours lingering around the neighborhood while waiting for the victim.
The sheriff’s office has not released updated conditions for either the woman or the elderly man who intervened.
Aranda was indicted on May 14 on multiple charges, including attempted kidnapping, stalking, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
Court records also show Aranda has a prior criminal history.
According to the Rogue Valley Times, he was convicted in 2016 in a case involving the sexual exploitation and stalking of a 16-year-old girl.
Several additional charges in that case, including first-degree rape, were reportedly dropped as part of a plea agreement.
He was sentenced to more than six years in prison in connection with those crimes.
