Rhode Island man held without bail after being accused of robbing and assaulting double amputee in wheelchair

A Rhode Island man has been held without bail after being indicted this week on charges that he assaulted and robbed a disabled man.

The Statewide Grand jury returned an indictment charging 55-year-old Nelson DeJesus of West Warwick with one count of first-degree robbery and one count of assault on a person with severe impairments.

On August 5th at approximately 5:30 p.m., Officers of the West Warwick Police responded to a local elderly housing development for a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that a 65-year-old man, who is a double amputee and wheelchair bound, was assaulted and robbed inside his own apartment. The investigation showed that the victim opened his apartment door after hearing a knock and was greeted by a man, who was brandishing a large knife. The man threatened the victim, demanded money and then threw the victim to the ground, causing him to fall from his wheelchair. The man then proceeded into the apartment, where he located a small amount of cash and a phone. The man took the cash and phone and attempted to leave the apartment. The victim (still on the ground) attempted to physically stop him and was again assaulted by the man. The man then fled the apartment. A police search of the area did not locate the suspect. The victim received minor injuries and was treated on scene.

Detectives investigated the crime and were able to establish a suspect. An arrest warrant was signed by a Magistrate. On August 7th, at around 4:45 a.m., patrol officers were able to locate the suspect in West Warwick and he was arrested. The suspect, De Jesus, was later arraigned by a bail commissioner at West Warwick Police headquarters and then formally arraigned at the Kent County Court House on August 9th.