An Oregon police officer who was responding to a report of debris on a bridge found something far more than he expected: a bloody woman tied up on the overpass.
The discovery occurred over the weekend on Newport's Yaquina Bay Bridge, where the officer heard someone crying for help, according to the Newport Police Department.
The officer followed the voice and found a woman who "had blood all over their face and head, a laceration to the back of the head, and their hands were tied tightly behind their back," a police report reveals.
The officer freed the woman and she was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Newport Police Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate a suspect or witnesses at that time.
The unidentified victim told police she'd been attacked, tied up and robbed.
"Earlier that same evening, the victim had been escorted by the suspect down a discrete trail off of the main pathway within the Yaquina Bay State Park. The victim was then struck in the head with a weapon and tackled to the ground," police said.
The woman told police she was threatened not to fight back or she would continue to be assaulted. She was "hog tied" using rope and shoe laces, then the suspect took off with her belongings, police said.
The woman was able to free her feet and found her way out of the park and onto the bridge, where she was found by the officer.
Police said the woman was able to provide suspect and witness information, along with a description of an involved vehicle.
Within hours, investigators found the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Thomas Brannies, at a nearby JC Thirftway store. Brannies, who had an outstanding warrant on assault charges, was promptly arrested on multiple charges.
"Witnesses confirmed Brannies and the victim had entered the park together and Brannies returned later without the victim," police said, adding that officers "observed the victim's stolen belongings inside of Brannies' vehicle."
Brannies is currently being held on $500,000 bail, court records reveal. He's charged with second-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, and second-degree theft.
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