10 News
April 30, 2015
A 54-year-old man allegedly broke into a man’s Hillcrest apartment early Thursday and rode off on a stolen electric wheelchair, but was arrested nearby after being bitten by a police dog, authorities said.
Stanley McQuery allegedly confronted the 79-year-old resident of the apartment in the 3600 block of Sixth Avenue near Evans Place shortly after 3:30 a.m., pushed him out of his wheelchair and took his phone, San Diego police Officer Frank Cali said. The resident, identified as William Ballard, suffered minor injuries.
Ballard can’t live without his wheelchair, as that’s the only way he can get around after his leg was amputated in 2010.
“He took out that screen and he removed it. I said, ‘What are you doing? Where are you going?’ He said, ‘I’m trying to get out of here,'” said Ballard.
Ballard said he was trying to call for help in the living room, but the suspect confronted him.
Ballard said, “[He said], ‘What are you doing? Are you trying to call the police? No!’ And he grabbed my cellphone.”
McQuery attempted to ride the electric wheelchair to freedom, but police officers caught up to him a couple blocks away, Cali said.
He then ditched the wheelchair and tried to run off, but was bitten by a police dog and taken into custody.
McQuery was taken to a hospital for treatment for being booked into the San Diego Jail on felony charges.