Police: Neighbors capture man found beating woman in robbery

Police: Neighbors capture man found beating woman in robbery
Oleta Nicholson, 50, says it was, "Fight or die" this morning when she found an intruder in her home.

EUGENE, Ore. -- A Eugene man is behind bars, after police say he beat a 50-year-old woman during a robbery.

Officers say that at about 2:00 am Monday, they were called to a residence in the 600 block of Raber Road, where neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming.

Authorities arrived and found Tyler Joseph Kowalchuk, 20, being restrained by the woman's neighbors.

Police say the victim, Oleta Nicholson, 50, was home alone when she heard noises and went to investigate. Her husband Scott was working the night shift.

Officials say Nicholson found Kowalchuk in her hallway when he attacked her.

She was able to get away briefly and hit the garage door opener, but officers say she couldn't make it out to her driveway.

Eugene police say Kowalchuk caught the victim, took her to the ground and continued to beat her.

When neighbors heard her screams, they came outside and physically restrained the man until police arrived.

He was arrested and lodged in the Lane County Jail, charged by police with attempted murder, first degree kidnapping and first degree robbery, among other charges.