Merced County Sheriff’s deputies rescued an elderly Delhi woman from a knife-wielding teenager who had broken into her home Saturday night.

The sheriff’s department received a report of a woman screaming from a home in the 9400 block of Petaluma Street shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday.

“As deputies arrived, they learned an unknown male subject had broken into an elderly woman’s home and attacked her with a knife,” the sheriff’s department reported. “Additionally, the male subject was still inside the residence with the elderly woman and was looking to be a possible hostage situation.”

Deputies found the suspect in the home with one hand holding the woman and the other grasping the knife.

The 83-year-old woman had already sustained a large cut to her hand, according to the sheriff’s department.

Deputies were able to speak with the 17-year-old suspect and were eventually able to convince him to let the woman go and drop the knife. He was then taken into custody.

The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics and released to her family.

The suspect was believed to be under the influence of an unknown substance and was transported to a local hospital for treatment prior to being booked into juvenile hall. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse.