33-year-old man arrested after ramming vehicles, punching officer in the face and slashing another with a knife

Eugene, OR – Eugene police arrested a 33-year-old man early Friday after he allegedly rammed parked vehicles, punched an officer in the face and slashed another officer with a knife while resisting arrest.

Officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of Chula Vista Boulevard at approximately 4:07 a.m. on Oct. 23 after receiving a report of a man actively ramming cars.

When officers arrived, they found Matthew Edward Wedekind, 33, of Eugene, in the driver’s seat of a Toyota Camry. Police said the vehicle had heavy front-end damage, with its passenger side wedged into a silver SUV.

Wedekind was lying in the driver’s seat with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes closed, according to police. Officers knocked on the windows and attempted to open the doors, but the vehicle was locked and Wedekind refused to get out.

An officer eventually broke a window, entered the vehicle and attempted to remove him. Police said Wedekind then tried to reach for something before punching an officer in the face as officers pulled him from the car.

According to the department, Wedekind produced a knife as officers struggled to restrain him. Officers used Tasers before they were able to gain control of him and place him in handcuffs.

One officer suffered facial injuries, with blood dripping from the officer’s face, while another sustained multiple bleeding lacerations to the wrist and hand after being slashed with the knife, police said.

Investigators also spoke with a resident at the address who identified Wedekind as her ex-boyfriend. The two had ended their relationship months earlier, according to police.

The woman told officers that Wedekind had texted her earlier that morning before arriving at the location and beginning to crash into her vehicle.

Police described Wedekind as uncooperative and combative during the incident.

He was booked into the Lane County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest, assault on a public safety officer, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

The Eugene Police Department did not provide additional details about the extent of the damage to the vehicles or the officers’ subsequent medical treatment.