In Oklahoma City, a paraplegic man expressed his concerns after being burglarized twice within a month, leaving him feeling unsafe. Alan Prudhome pointed out that the individuals who stole from him seemed to target him because of his disabilities.
He recounted a harrowing incident: “I woke up to someone attempting to take my bag, which holds everything important to me.” In another theft, he reported that a thief entered his apartment and absconded with his TV, laptop, and various belongings. They took not only cash and medication but also essential items like his wheelchair and the hand controls that allow him to drive it.
Initially, Prudhome thought the first incident was an isolated event and filed a police report. However, just a week later, he experienced another break-in. “I woke up again to someone trying to pull things from my bag,” he recalled, astonished at the audacity. After confronting the suspect, identified as Johnny Johnson, Prudhome learned that Johnson had taken a box of his belongings.
Prudhome confronted him, asking, “Is this for me?” Johnson responded, “It happened to me,” to which Prudhome pointed out that he was not paralyzed and could fend for himself.
After calling the police, officers managed to arrest Johnson nearby, but they didn’t locate an accomplice. Prudhome mentioned that two suspects from the second robbery live in his building, though it remains unclear if they were involved in the first incident.
Johnson is facing charges for first-degree robbery and is currently being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center with a bond set at $15,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 23.
To assist with his losses, Prudhome created a crowdfunding campaign, which raised over $11,000 towards a $16,000 goal. Fortunately, things took a positive turn shortly after, when Stacy Reddig, a veteran wheelchair user, learned of Prudhome’s situation. She stated, “I couldn’t believe someone would steal his medical device, so we stepped in to help.”
Reddig’s organization gifted Prudhome a brand new manual wheelchair, enabling him to better access appointments and daily needs, bringing some relief to his challenging situation.
