Paramedic Stops Attempted Rape Of Tahlequah Woman, Police Say

Tahlequah police say a man is behind bars for attempted rape after a nearby paramedic heard screams and rushed to a woman's aid.

Northeastern Health System paramedic Matt Young is being hailed a hero, while 25-year-old Joey Donavan Case is in the Cherokee County jail for attempted rape, sexual assault, first-degree burglary, aggravated assault and battery and public intoxication.

Young was part of a crew dispatched to the home of an injured man on Monday about 10:20 p.m., the Tahlequah Daily Press first reported. A spokesperson for the police department told News On 6 the injured man said he twisted his knee when trying to get to his friend’s home to help her because she was screaming for help.

While paramedics were treating the man, they also heard the woman’s screams, TPD says.

Young, who also is a former full-time officer and current reserve officer with the Tahlequah Police Department, reportedly ran to the woman’s house and found Case on top of her, gripping her neck and punching her in the face while she was naked from the waist down, TPD says.

Young reportedly hit Case in the face and pulled his hands off the woman’s throat. He restrained Case until police could arrive. Officers responded to find Young struggling with Case and restraining him on the floor, a spokesperson said.

The woman said she doesn’t know Case, but she noticed he was at the same party as her earlier in the evening, the Daily Press reported.

The woman said she left the party, walked home, went to sleep and was awakened by someone in her house touching her inappropriately, the Daily Press said, citing an arrest affidavit. She said she told her attacker to stop repeatedly, but he held her down with a chokehold.

Case is being held in lieu of $75,000 bond  and is due in court on Oct. 27.