When Jolene Griffieth’s wheelchair was discovered by a passerby in a ditch along an East Side street last week, she was elated that the expensive mobility had been found. But when she arrived at the Cumberland Police station to reclaim the device, Griffieth could quickly see mechanical deficiencies.
“When I got to see it, it was completely waterlogged and every piece that could be broken off the frame was broken off. It is completely inoperable,” said Griffieth.
Cumberland Police have now charged a city man with theft under $500 for his alleged involvement in the case. According to district court documents, Wiliam J. White, 23, of Walnut Street allegedly had possession of the wheelchair early last week after the wheelchair was taken from Griffieth’s residence in the 300 block of Frederick Street.
Allegedly, two city girls, ages 13 and 11, stole the wheelchair and then took it for a joy ride before abandoning it in the area of Knox and Columbia streets.
It was apparently not long after that when White encountered an unidentified man who was riding the wheelchair in that area. White said he gave the man some cigarettes to take possession of the wheelchair.
Subsequently, White allegedly contacted a Waverly Terrace man whom he knew was in the market for a wheelchair. White sold the wheelchair to the man for $165, stating that the wheelchair had belonged to an elderly friend of his who had recently died.
However, following a Times-News article about the stolen wheelchair, White contacted the man, advising him that he had learned from the published accounts that the wheelchair was stolen. White then reportedly took the chair and disposed of it on James Day Drive where it was later discovered.
The man who allegedly purchased the wheelchair contacted police, leading to White being charged in the case.
source (besides my BFF)
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