Background: The trail where an 82-year-old woman was found unconscious in Tigard, Oregon (KGW/YouTube). Inset: Marcellus Ford appears virtually in Washington County court on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 (KGW/YouTube).
A man has been arrested for allegedly attacking an 82-year-old woman on a trail in Oregon, leaving her unconscious with “serious injuries.”
Marcellus Ford, 18, is in the Washington County Jail on a second-degree assault charge, court records reveal. He made an initial court appearance virtually on Wednesday.
On Sunday, at about 6:45 p.m., the alleged victim was walking on the Fanno Creek Trail in the city when “a younger man began following her,” the Tigard Police Department said. This man then “suddenly physically attacked her.”
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
The suspect ran away, but the woman was “left unconscious lying on the trail,” according to the department. Bikers happened upon the woman “quickly,” though, police added, and they called 911. The woman was taken to the hospital, where she remained on Tuesday, the last time cops provided an update on her status.
Preliminary indications were that the incident was a “random attack,” investigators said. But police had a lead to go on – a photo of a suspect at the Tigard Public Library – which is in front of the trail – after the assault.
Cops released the photo to the public, asking for help identifying a suspect. Their focus quickly turned to Ford, and on Tuesday, he was arrested and placed in jail.
“We”d like to thank our partners in the community for their help in quickly identifying him,” police said.
Community members speaking with Portland NBC affiliate KGW said that violent crime is uncommon on the trail.
“I walk it every day, five days a week,” one Tigard resident said. “And I never have really had a problem.”
Another man called the trail “super safe” and “really great” for the city, pointing to a new bridge that was constructed.
“People should get out and enjoy their community,” Darin Swanson added. “And I think that there’s a virtuous cycle there – the more people who do it, the less likely stuff like this is to happen. And if, unfortunately, it does happen, then [they] immediately can help the lady.”
According to the outlet, Ford, who is from Tigard, has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week.
Tigard is part of the Portland metropolitan area, located about 10 miles southwest of the major city.
