An alert 85-year-old man managed to subdue a suspect impersonating a utility worker who attempted to kidnap a woman, according to authorities.
Matthew Hochley Aranda, 42, a transient from the Medford area, was indicted by a Jackson County grand jury on May 14 for ten charges related to the alarming incident that took place on May 8, as reported by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators revealed that Aranda, posing as a utility worker, ambushed a 25-year-old caregiver working at a mobile home park in rural Medford, Oregon. The attack lasted several hours.
Upon the woman’s arrival, Aranda allegedly used a Taser on her, incapacitating and physically assaulting her during the ordeal.
When the woman screamed for help, the elderly resident, labeled a “hero,” intervened, allowing the victim to escape to his vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
Aranda then allegedly directed the Taser at this elderly Good Samaritan before pursuing the woman, armed with a large hunting knife.
As the victim fled to her car, she managed to get inside, yet Aranda jumped onto the vehicle’s hood. He subsequently fell off as she drove away, sustaining injuries in the process.
Authorities later located Aranda hiding in nearby bushes and arrested him without further incident. Video footage showed officers, assisted by a K-9, tracking down the suspect.
While being extracted from the bushes, Aranda could be heard claiming that his leg was broken.
Aranda faces a slew of charges, including two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of attempted first-degree kidnapping, two counts of attempted second-degree kidnapping, stalking, unlawful use of a GPS device, unlawful use of a weapon, and menacing.
The sheriff’s office noted that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
