Husband and wife team up to take down wanted felon
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Matt Schiewe used his bare hands while his wife, Marilyn Mays, used a broom to take down a wanted man on the run from police.
Beaverton police said they saw the suspect, Harly Berg, walking in the area of Scholls Ferry Road. He was wanted for a probation violation. And when they tried to stop him, he took off. That's when he ran into the husband-wife dynamic duo.
Matt Schiewe was working in his backyard when he said Berg hopped over his chain-link fence.
"He had his foot right about here (on top of the fence)," Schiewe said. "He was up in the air when I turned around."
Schiewe could tell Berg was running from something.
"I kinda grabbed him and said, 'What are you doing here?' He wouldn't respond," Schiewe said.
He wasn't going to let Berg pass through him or his property, but he had no idea the suspect had a gun.
"We got against the fence (and) that's when I looked down, saw that gun in his left hand. So I grabbed his wrist brought it up. ..."
Schiewe said the gun dropped into the bushes, but his grip on Berg held tight.
"He was struggling, but I had him – both arms around his chest (and) squeezed him," Schiewe said.
Schiewe called out for his wife Marilyn, who practices martial arts. She grabbed that broom hanging from a wall and used it in close range against the struggling suspect.
"I didn't hit him," she said. But Marilyn did press the wooden end of the broom against the right side of Berg's head "in case I needed to."
Police showed up to find the broom-wielding and bear-hugging couple subduing Berg for about five minutes.
Pumped up on adrenaline – but now looking back – both hope it doesn't happen again.
"I don't know, tussling with somebody with a gun was probably not a good idea," said Matt. "I wouldn’t recommend it."
Berg was arrested and police said they took the gun as evidence. Marilyn said she's planning on taking a refresher course in self-defense and hopes to take one with her husband. And she said maybe she will even teach a class.
We started looking into this story after someone contacted our newsroom. If you have something you think we should look into, send us an email to newstips@katu.com.
Good job all around. Glad it worked out positive. Luckily the fleeing person did not use the weapon, or it could have been ugly. Great job in helping the police with the individual.
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Ah, the family that plays together, stays together! Haiii-YAH! Take down those bad dudes!!
I love it when people actually give a damn and get involved.
Kudos to Matt & Marilyn, Beaverton's newest Dynamic Duo!!
Good for them! there should be more community involvement and let the criminals know they are not welcome
What a great story... I especially like Matt's attitude towards forgiveness... Forgiveness makes us sleep well..
I love it! I'm sure any future fence jumpers will avoid that yard!Â
Thanks to everyone's comments, and thanks to the courtious interview by KATU News. Also we appriciate the swift arrival, level headed action, and expertise of the police; they were great! And I am especially partial to Officer Max, who sniffed out and found the gun in the bushes.
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And speaking of K-9's, one thing the news story only touch on was how the "Dinamick Duo" had a threatening threesome to back them up: our black lab, Daisy. When I started in after Mr. Berg, Daisy backed me up by barking at him. Marilyn heard the barking and was first alerted to something not right.
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One other thing that happened while the three of us held Mr. Berg at bay that was interesting to me. Along with struggling with him we also said things to him, sometimes threatening words like when Marilyn saw him reach for his pockets, she yelled for him not to or she would beat his head. But also we said things to him that might make him relax and quit struggling. At one point I said something like, "calm down, you'll be better off when the police have you." At that I seem to remember him pausing, maybe looking into my eyes, and maybe he was thinking for a moment that his live had been so messed up with drugs and crime that going with the cops might be better. I sensed that deep inside him was a good person, one that wants to rediscover constructive and friendly ways. I believe Harly Berg can now start working himself, with the help of society, back to a fine citizen with which we can forgive and live. And may he forgive himself. Good luck Harly!
 @Matt Schiewe A good dog can eliminate much of the surprise brought on by an intruder. Great job Daisy!
Kudos to Mr. Schiewe and Ms. Mays. The problem is this idiot will be back out on the streets in no time.
what a dummy
wow, that's crazy. sounds like a scene from a Rob Schneider flick except he passes out when he sees the gun.
Awesome!! Â So glad this had a positive outcome! Â My favorite part of the story was this, Â "I didn't hit him," she said. But Marilyn did press the wooden end of the broom against the right side of Berg's head "in case I needed to."
Great story!!
Thanks to my new sister-in-law. 40 days into marriage and you continue to bring out the best in Matt. You'll be known as the Dynamic Duo from now on.
@Proud Brother This was a great story,  Just take it as a reminder not to make her mad!
Awesome. Good people just doing the job that good people do.
Matt (Schiewe)Â and Marilyn Mays, the match that made the misbehaving man maintain his manners. Â Much merriment!
 @negativerep mmmmooooooo! ];->
Great job, now maybe the court system will do their job and lock this guy up for a few years. On bread and water, no cable TV to watch either.
 @onceagain Not likely will be a slap on the hand with a don't do that again and have a good day...
I wouldn't want this guy cutting through my yard either. Good job.
Dynamic duo!!  Awesome!  Loser boy didn't know what hit him.  Â
Jumped into the wrong backyard, hu, buddy!!    LOL
When you get captured by a woman holding a broom to your head, maybe crime isn't your thing.
@al_02 Agreed, but also have to give credit to teemwork. Having the right woman watching your back is a wonderful thing! My wife and I know how real teemwork helps both. Good job, to both of you!
OOPS! Guess I spoke too soon! I should say good job to all three of you!
Nicely done folks, I'm glad this had a happy ending and that neither of you got hurt. That is a scary situation.
Way to go Schiewe's, you done everyone a favor!
Only a Schiewe would be this crazyÂ
@Kate Schiewe "Only a Schiewe would be this crazy" I understand what your saying, but a lot of credit goes to a couple that work together AND defend their property! If that is crazy, well please teach some of the so called sane people to be that kind of crazy!
@Kate Schiewe Thats a good kinda crazy. We need more good people to get and keep involved.