Woman facing arson, menacing charges after stabbing 2 cars, setting car on fire

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A woman is facing multiple charges, including arson, menacing and criminal mischief, after Portland police say she stabbed two cars and ignited another on fire in Southwest Portland on Thursday.

Neighbors told KOIN 6 News that 42-year-old Elishama Mathews allegedly ran into traffic with a knife, stabbed two passing cars, eventually lighting an empty parked car on fire, leaving scorched earth and bushes in her wake.

"The explosions. That's the part that really scared everybody," said witness Daniel McNab. "We just want her to get the help."

McNab added he rushed home just before noon Thursday after his wife called, warning that Mathews was trying to stab the cars on Southwest Barbur and Southwest 26th Avenue.

"The cars that she stabbed, the people that she tried to stab," he continued. "My wife looked at her and said, 'Come sit down with us and just talk.' She said, 'No, no, no, I have people I need to kill today.'"

McNab claimed he watched Mathews calmly put on her jacket and walk away after lighting the parked car on fire.

Believing Mathews to be experiencing a mental health crisis, members of PPB's Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team (ECIT) then stepped in to de-escalate the situation, convincing her to toss over the knife and surrender.

No injuries were officially reported, but McNab stated he sustained some cuts while trying to help.

Sgt. Kevin Allen with Portland police told KOIN 6 News that all officers have some crisis intervention training. But ECIT officers take on an additional 40 hours to help them intervene in calls like this where a person is believed to be experiencing a crisis.

"We had a happy ending. We got her into custody," he said. "And certainly, she committed a serious crime but we're also advocating for her to get some help."