Charges laid after London, Ont. girl's missing wheelchair found 'unrepairable'
A day after the mother of a special needs girl put out a call for the return of her daughter's wheelchair it has been found, damaged beyond repair.
Caren Fair, the mother of nine-year-old Aaliyah Faulknor, pleaded for the return of her wheelchair, which had been taken from the front porch of the family's home on Connaught Avenue early Tuesday morning.
‘I couldn’t believe it, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that someone would take a little girls custom wheelchair,” says Fair.
London police say a local man was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with a separate robbery in the 1200 block of Oxford Street East.
‘We can say we have arrested someone in relation with an unrelated matter and he was in possession with a wheelchair at the time,” says Const. Sandasha Bough with London Police Service.
According to police the 29-year-old suspect entered a grocery story on Oxford Street East with the pink wheelchair.
Police allege that the suspect concealed a number of items, paying for only one. When confronted by an employee a physical altercation took place and the suspect produced a knife and what appeared to be a pipe.
The employee was struck and a woman was hit with the wheelchair as the suspect left. Depsite the altercation no injuries were reported.
Police say they located the suspect with the wheelchair and other stolen items in his possession along with several large knives.
As part of the investigation the girl's pink wheelchair was found in his possession and returned to its owners.
The suspect has been charged with armed robbery, possession of stolen property, breach of probation and assault with a weapon.
Unfortunately, the wheelchair has been significantly damaged. “It’s broken…I can’t use it,’ says Aaliyah.
"It’s really disheartening, it affects her entire life. Without the wheelchair we can’t do anything,” says sister Haley Fair.
The family has begun a search for a temporary wheelchair as they try to raise funds to purchase a new one. In just under five hours, the goal has already been surpassed.
Fair says the family is very grateful to everyone who shared their story and for the offers of help.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.