Woman Avoids Kidnapping When Brother Fights Off Assailant: Police

LEBANON, OR — A 30-year-old woman reportedly avoided kidnapping Tuesday when her brother fought off her estranged boyfriend, whom the siblings found with a gun and makeshift restraints waiting in the woman's trailer outside Lebanon, according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office.

Joshua Lee Jarrett, 32, was arrested and taken to the Linn County Jail on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges, which include assault, menacing, and attempted kidnapping. His bail is set at $332,000.

Sheriff's officials said the woman called 911 just before 4 p.m. Feb. 6 after a family member told her they'd seen a vehicle they thought belonged to Jarrett sitting just down the road from where she was staying outside Lebanon. The woman explained she already had a restraining order against Jarrett prohibiting him from contacting her.

After speaking with 911, the woman apparently left work and drove with her brother to the trailer to verify whether it was in fact Jarrett's vehicle, authorities said. When they arrived, the siblings entered the trailer and reportedly found Jarrett pointing a gun at both of them.

As deputies were en route to the trailer, the woman called 911 again and told dispatchers that her brother and Jarrett were now wrestling over the weapon, authorities said. By the time deputies arrived, Jarrett had been disarmed and restrained by the woman's brother.

In the trailer, deputies found the weapon — a pellet gun that reportedly looked like an actual semi-automatic pistol — and makeshift restraints authorities say Jarrett intended to use on the woman.

Following his arrest, Jarrett was taken to Lebanon Community Hospital to be treated for minor injuries he apparently sustained in the altercation with the woman's brother.

Jarrett was previously convicted in July 2017 for Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony - Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, following an indictment accusing him of sexually abusing a girl under 14 years old between 2013 and 2015, court documents show.

It does not appear the two incidents are related.

Image via Linn County Sheriff's Office