A 31-year-old Macomb County man was charged Wednesday with attacking an elderly man who was walking in his Sterling Heights neighborhood, according to police.

Defrim Iazaj of Shelby Township was arraigned in 41-A District Court on charges of assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, Sterling Heights police said. His bond was set at $500,000 cash, with the stipulation that he be fitted with a GPS tether if he is able to post bond.

According to the preliminary investigation, a 76-year-old Sterling Heights resident was out for a walk at about 9 a.m. Tuesday on Riverland Road east of Van Dyke Avenue and north of Utica Road when he was assaulted by the suspect.

Police said the suspect had been walking behind the victim and “making weird statements” to him before the unprovoked attack. The suspect used a knife but the victim was able to fight him off.

A driver happened to be passing by at the time of the incident and saw the two men scuffling on the ground.

Linda Lucia saw a few cars pulled over nearby and thought it was road rage at first, and she started filming it with her cellphone. But she soon ended the video and called 911 when she realized it was serious.

Lucia said she the victim was on the ground bleeding and calling out for someone to help him.

“He was beating him. I mean, full on punches,” Lucia told WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) “Both eyes were just completely bruised, just battered, and he was still trying to fight him off at that point.”

Investigators said the victim was also stabbed, suffering a superficial wound to the shoulder.

Lucia says she and another Good Samaritan tried to distract the suspect as they waited for police to arrive. Once police showed up, the suspect ran off. He was quickly caught after a short foot chase.

Iazaj is being held in the Macomb County Jail while he awaits charges. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.