An 85-year-old man from Oregon is being celebrated as a hero after he risked his own safety to stop a kidnapping attempt by a criminal who was pretending to be a utility worker outside his residence. The incident occurred on May 8 in a Medford neighborhood, where the elderly Good Samaritan, whose identity has not been disclosed, rushed out of his mobile home upon hearing a woman screaming.
Heroic Intervention
According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the octogenarian confronted Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42, who was armed with a taser and trying to subdue a 25-year-old caretaker. During the confrontation, Aranda allegedly used the taser on the elderly man. However, the senior citizen managed to buy enough time for the distressed victim to flee.
Police reported that Aranda chased the woman while brandishing a large hunting knife, but she managed to get into her car at the last moment. As she started the ignition, Aranda jumped onto the hood of her vehicle. The caretaker was able to shake him off as she sped away, resulting in a broken leg for Aranda, as shown in body camera footage released by the sheriff's office.
Arrest and Charges
Authorities found a battered Aranda hiding in a nearby bush. Body cam footage captured him moaning about his broken leg as officers pulled him out, handcuffed him, and took him into custody. Aranda, who was dressed in a plain white t-shirt and khakis, had allegedly posed as a utility worker and loitered for several hours waiting for the victim.
The condition of the elderly hero and the victim has not been immediately disclosed. On May 14, Aranda was indicted on multiple charges, including stalking, attempted kidnapping, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon. He had a prior conviction in 2016 related to the sexual exploitation and stalking of a 16-year-old girl. Several other charges, including first-degree rape, were dropped as part of a plea deal, according to the Rogue Valley Times. Aranda was sentenced to just over six years in prison for that crime.
