Bend Man Arrested After Threatening to Stab Passing Motorists

Bend, Oregon– At approximately 1:12 p.m. on Friday, March 15, Bend Police responded to a concerning report involving a man threatening passing motorists on NE 27th Street and Highway 20.

Arnaldo Lopez, a 31-year-old resident of Bend, dialed 911 to report his own actions – standing defiantly in the middle of the road, announcing his intent to harm people. His threatening behavior escalated further when he obstructed a Community Service Officer’s vehicle, preventing her from leaving, and menacingly challenged her to a confrontation.

Officers were dispatched to the scene and found Lopez non-compliant with directives, advancing towards a police vehicle positioned in the roadway. In response, officers employed measured tactics, including verbal commands and the deployment of oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, alongside the presence of a K9 and his handler. Despite Lopez’s lack of cooperation, officers successfully apprehended him without injury to anyone involved.

Following the incident, Lopez was apprehended and transported to St. Charles Bend for evaluation before being booked into the Deschutes County Jail. No officers sustained injuries during the arrest operation.

Bend Police Department urges the public to report any suspicious or threatening behavior.

This incident remains under investigation.