Woman attacked by laborer inside her home

PORTLAND, Ore. - Police said a man forced his way into an older woman's northeast Portland home, attacked and robbed her and stole her car on Saturday.

It happened in the 3200 block of Northeast Hoyt Street about noon. A 62-year-old woman told police a man she had previously hired to do yard work came by on Saturday asking if she needed more work done.

When she said she did not, he persisted and eventually kicked in her door and attacked her, police said.

After taking money and the keys to her beige 1997 Toyota Camry, the man drove away in her car. The woman, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, went to a neighbor's house for help. The neighbor took her to a local hospital for treatment.

Minutes later, police saw a man driving her car west on Northeast Sandy Boulevard at Northeast 24th Avenue and stopped it.

James Dunavan, 39, was arrested and booked in the Multnomah County jail on charges of attempted murder, assault, robbery, burglary and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Investigators also linked him to a July 27 burglary in the 100 block of Northeast 24th Avenue.

Police said officials with a local Les Schwab tire store donated a tire to fix the victim's car and agreed to deliver the vehicle to her when she is released from the hospital.