KEY POINTS

  • The 26-year-old Arizona man who attempted to steal a wheelchair on Friday was captured by Phoenix police after receiving anonymous tips
  • The suspect, Austin Shurbutt, was found and taken into custody between 57th Drive and Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona
  • The suspect forcibly threw the woman from the wheelchair
  • Shurbutt faced charges of robbery, attempted kidnapping, assault and vulnerable adult abuse

The Phoenix police finally arrested the suspect of an attempted wheelchair theft.

Officers gave credit to the anonymous tips from Silent Witness that led to the capture of 26-year-old Austin Shurbutt who was found near 57th drive and Happy Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona.

Shurbutt was caught in a surveillance footage taken around 3:40 pm on Friday grabbing a woman’s wheelchair while she was still in it and pushed her out of a light rail car near the 12th street and Jefferson stop.

The suspect forcibly grabbed the wheelchair when the woman screamed for help, causing her to fall out of it and suffer bruises.

According to ABC 15, Shurbutt attempted to steal the then empty wheelchair but bystanders who heard the victim’s screams apprehended him which led to him fleeing the scene empty-handed.

The victim told officials that she noticed Shurbutt staring at her before the incident happened and thought nothing of it until he attacked her and she feared that he might rob, kidnap or sexually assault her.

After being taken into custody, Shurbutt admitted that he was the person in the surveillance photos taken before and after the incident but refused to disclose further information without a lawyer.

The suspect had two outstanding warrants, police say. He was charged with robbery, attempt to kidnap, assault, and vulnerable adult abuse among others.

wheelchair
A disabled woman in a wheelchair was denied entry into a chocolate store in Batu Kawan, Malaysia. In this image, a motorized wheelchair used by Stephen Hawking on display at Christie's auction house during a press preview ahead of a sale of the scientist's personal belongings in London, England, Oct. 30, 2018. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
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