Wheelchair-bound U.S lawyer attacked at seawall

-Joint Services ranks apprehend thief

 

Quick-thinking Joint Services ranks yesterday captured a thief who had attacked and robbed a wheelchair-bound American attorney near the Kingston seawall.

Wheelchair-bound U.S lawyer

Ivan Antonio Ramirez, a 35-year-old Immigration lawyer, was punched by the 23-year-old thief who then made off with the lawyer's briefcase containing legal documents, his passport and a cellular phone.

The brazen attack occurred in the vicinity of Le Meridien Pegasus, where Ramirez is a guest.

The seawall drama began at around 12:30 hrs when a young man approached Ramirez who was resting in his wheelchair, and asked him for a dollar.

When Ramirez said that he had no money, the youth made a grab for the lawyer's briefcase.

The two men began to wrestle over the briefcase, with the robber punching his victim who was eventually forced to relinquish his hold.

But as the thief was escaping, security staff from Le Meridien Pegasus, who were alerted about the robbery, contacted the police and army ranks from the nearby Kingston Base.

The ranks immediately cordoned the area.

They found the thief hiding in a clump of bushes.

The briefcase was found a short distance away.

All the contents, except for the cellular phone, were recovered.

The thief has been detained at Brickdam Police Station and is to be charged.

Saturday 12-09-2006