Wheelchair-Bound Man Robbed At Knifepoint

Just how low will a robber go to steal someone else's money?

Police say one man preyed on another who could not defend himself because he's confined to a wheelchair. The victim lost all the money he had for the rest of the month.

Friday Russell Sanders positively identified his attacker. We showed Russell Sanders the mugshot of Michael Dewayne Laster who's now in the Walker County Jail charged with armed robbery.

The story began last Saturday when Sanders, who's physically disabled and uses an electric wheelchair to get around, took a stroll through the CokeOvens Park in Chickamauga. That's when Sanders first saw Laster.

"He told me when he walked out of the front yard he was in that's where my momma lives, and said his momma lives right here." Sanders said.

But the friendly encounter quickly turned ugly. As Sanders and Laster continued talking and going down the path Sanders said Laster reached in his pocket for a knife.

"And next thing I know dude threatened to cut my throat saying he wanted my money," Sanders said.

Obviously Sanders can't defend himself so he gave Laster his last $100. Laster ran away along Highway 341 hile Sanders went to his mother's house.

"She's like well, this ain't the first time he's done this, she's tired of him and he's on that dope real bad," Sanders recalled.

Sanders called Chickamauga Police from Mrs. Laster's home. According to Officer Rebecca Beason's report Mrs. Laster told her  "there was no doubt in her mind that Michael robbed Sanders because he does bad things all the time and has stolen $300 from her."

The report goes on to say Mrs. Laster told the officer to please find her son "before he steals more and runs across someone who will kill him."

But when we spoke with Mrs. Laster Thursday she said her son never robbed Sanders and that Sanders just "gave" her son $100.

When we told that version of the story to Sanders he replied "she's changed her story now, ain't she."

$100 is a lot for Sanders to loose because that's all he had until his next disability check arrives.

Laster was arrested a day after the robbery in what police call an apparently intoxicated state of mind, reeking of alcohol.

We asked Sanders what he thought about being robbed by a man who just showed him where his family lives.

"Yes sir, it seems pretty stupid to me," Sanders replied.

Chickamauga Police Chief Michael Haney says Laster has been arrested numerous times for crimes like theft and shoplifting. He said hopes Laster serves substantial time in prison for this robbery but it' will be up to the courts to decide punishment.