Man in wheelchair allegedly steals purse, spits

[February 03, 2009]  COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Columbus police arrested a man in a wheelchair after he allegedly stole a woman's purse early Saturday and then spit in an officer's face. Police said a 51-year-old man approached a 49-year-old woman who was reclining on a couch in the lobby of their apartment building with her brown purse beside her.

Police said the man took the purse and tried to get away but the woman yelled at him to return the purse and it was recovered. The man got into an elevator and went to his room but was arrested for robbery a short time later.

Two officers took the man to a medical center for treatment. Police said the man then insulted the weight of one officer and then cursed and spit in his face.

The man was charged with obstruction of an officer and was released from the Muscogee County Jail later that day.

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Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/

[Associated Press]

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