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18-Year-Old Arrested For Robbing Wheelchair-Bound 76-Year-Old
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 4, 2011
Modified Aug 4, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 4, 2011
Modified Aug 4, 2011
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Yesterday, the police identified the suspect who robbed a 78-year-old woman being pushed in a wheelchair last month. Surveillance videos captured the daytime theft of a purse in Bushwick and the footage aired on TV: According to the Daily News, "Cody Santiago, 18, was sitting on a couch in the living room of his family's Bushwick home Tuesday night when the TV began to broadcast the video of the heartless heist, his family said." His mother even said, "Cody, why did you do that?" and when he denied it, she said, "Yes, that's you, Cody. Don't deny it!"
Santiago's family, who adopted him when he was three, said they didn't approve of his actions and begged him to turn himself in. Instead, the teen, who has "prior arrests for sexual abuse and theft of services," left and the police arrested him last night.
His mugging victim, Catalina Mateo said she's still frightened of him, "He didn't even respect the fact that I was in a wheelchair. I'm still afraid of this guy." Her purse contained $15 and her medication.
Tagged
brooklyn
bushwick
cory santiago
elderly woman
robbery
wheelchair
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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