Three Arrested After Assault At The Van Duzer Rest Area

On Saturday August 30th just before 9 pm Oregon State Police responded to a call at the Van Duzer rest area on Highway 18 regarding an assault. The report was that there were three adults in masks chasing two people with a machete and a baseball bat. Upon arrival State Police learned two men approached the victims and ordered one out of the car. When he didn't comply, he was hit with a baseball bat. The victim got out of the car and tried running off when the female victim in the car was threatened with the bat. The three took off in a Maroon SUV prior to state police arrival on scene and headed westbound toward Lincoln City.

Lincoln City Police and Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies assisted in locating and stopping the SUV off Highway 101 in Lincoln City. The driver, identified as 30-year old Mathai J. Moses of Lincoln City had an odor of alcohol and was found to be impaired. The State Police Trooper also noted there were several empty alcohol containers in the car. He also observed a machete in a sheath and a baseball bat in the car. Moses was arrested for DUII and many other crimes, including reckless driving, assault, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, felon with a weapon, and bias crime.

The other two passengers in the car were also arrested for crimes committed at the rest area. 37-year old Sean Halderman of Corvallis was charged with menacing, harassment and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Also arrested was 29-year old Shanna Cox of Lincoln City for harassment and menacing.