85-year-old ‘hero’ stops man posing as utility worker trying to kidnap woman, authorities say
A nimble 85-year-old took down a man posing as a utility worker who was allegedly attempting to kidnap a woman, authorities said.
Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42, a transient from the Medford area, was indicted May 14 by a Jackson County grand jury on 10 charges stemming from the terrifying May 8 attack, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Aranda allegedly posed as a utility worker and "laid in wait" for several hours for his 25-year-old victim, who was working as a caregiver at a mobile home park in rural Medford, Oregon, investigators said.
When the woman arrived, Aranda allegedly used a Taser to incapacitate her and physically attacked her, authorities said.
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That's when, police said, a "hero" 85-year-old resident heard the woman screaming and confronted the armed suspect, giving the victim a chance to escape to her car, the sheriff’s office said.
Aranda then allegedly used the Taser on the elderly good Samaritan before chasing the woman with a large hunting knife.
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The victim managed to get inside her vehicle, but Aranda allegedly jumped onto the hood as she drove away. He fell off and was injured, authorities said.
Deputies later found Aranda hiding in a nearby bush and arrested him without further incident.
Video of the arrest captures authorities hot on the trail of the alleged attacker, with K-9 helping authorities.
As the suspect was pulled from the bushes, he is heard telling police that his "leg is broken."
Aranda was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, two counts of stalking, unlawful use of a GPS device, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.
The sheriff’s office said the case remains under investigation.
