An 85-year-old neighbor in rural Medford confronted a man allegedly posing as a utility worker who attempted to abduct a 25-year-old caregiver, allowing her to escape to her car. Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42, was indicted May 14 on 10 charges related to the May 8 attack. Deputies say the suspect used a Taser and chased the victim with a hunting knife, later jumping onto the victim’s car hood and then hiding in nearby bushes where he was arrested. The investigation is ongoing.
85-Year-Old Good Samaritan Confronts Alleged Kidnapper, Helping Victim Escape; Suspect Indicted on 10 Charges
Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42, was indicted on 10 charges after allegedly posing as a utility worker and lying in wait.(Fox News)
An agile 85-year-old Medford resident intervened when a man posing as a utility worker allegedly tried to abduct a 25-year-old caregiver, authorities said.
Jackson County prosecutors say 42-year-old Matthew Hokulii Aranda, described as a transient from the Medford area, was indicted May 14 by a grand jury on 10 charges tied to the May 8 incident, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Body-worn camera video shared by the sheriff’s office showed deputies and a K-9 locating Aranda hiding in some nearby bushes and taking him into custody.
Investigators allege Aranda spent several hours "laying in wait" while posing as a utility worker near a mobile home park in rural Medford, Oregon. When the caregiver arrived for work, deputies say Aranda used a Taser to incapacitate and then physically attack her.
According to the sheriff’s office, an 85-year-old neighbor heard the woman screaming and confronted the armed suspect, giving the victim an opportunity to flee to her vehicle. Deputies allege Aranda then used the Taser on the elderly Good Samaritan before pursuing the woman while brandishing a large hunting knife.
The suspect allegedly used a Taser on the victim and the elderly Good Samaritan before chasing the victim with a hunting knife.
The victim managed to get inside her car, and deputies say Aranda jumped onto the hood as she drove away. He fell off, sustained injuries and later was found hiding in nearby bushes. Authorities arrested him without further incident; body-camera and arrest footage show officers and a K-9 at the scene. While being removed from the bushes, Aranda is heard telling police, "my leg is broken," the sheriff’s office said.
Charges
Aranda faces multiple charges, including:
- Two counts of second-degree assault
- Two counts of first-degree attempted kidnapping and one count of second-degree attempted kidnapping
- Two counts of stalking
- Unlawful use of a GPS device
- Unlawful use of a weapon
- Menacing
The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing. No further details about the victims’ current conditions were released at the time of the indictment.
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