Man Attacks Wheelchair-Bound Vet For The Cash In His Wallet
DENVER (CBS4) - An 85-year-old Army veteran who gets around in a wheelchair was beaten and robbed while returning home on a busy Denver street in the middle of the day.
Joe doesn't want his full name used after being assaulted near his apartment on Pennsylvania Street and Colfax Avenue.
"I was in a pool of blood out there on the sidewalk," he said.
Shortly after 11 a.m. on Aug. 7, the former soldier had been coming home in his wheelchair a few blocks from his apartment. A man approached him and asked if Joe needed help crossing the street.
"He said 'I do this for a living and I can help you cross the street.' I said no I don't need any help," Joe said.
A few blocks later, Joe arrived at his senior living facility and pulled out his wallet to scan his access card. That's when the man came up from behind and tried to wrench the wallet from his hand. Joe fought back, and the attacker became enraged.
"He just picked me up. He just pitched down and forward. And I ended up with 11 stitches," said Joe.
Along with the stitches, Joe also suffered injuries to his shoulder, arm and leg.
The attacker is described as an African American male wearing a white juvenile diabetes T-shirt. He escaped with $37 of Joe's money.
Joe says in three years he's never had any problems at his apartment.
"It's very safe. That's why I live here!" Joe said
For the criminal who showed him no mercy, Joe says he's hoping to eventually return the favor.
"I hope he gets put in jail because I'm going to prosecute him."
Someone found Joe's wallet several blocks away, still containing credit cards and everything else but cash.
Police have released a crime alert and are counting on public's help in identifying the attacker. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
