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Teens Steal Van From Disabled Woman

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2008

Updated: 12/06/2008 11:44 pm

Tampa - Three 17-year-olds accused of stealing a disabled woman's van and wheelchair caught a ride to the county's Juvenile Assessment Center, police said.

Maurice Ladrell Benjamin, Damien Maurice Tyson and Keion Deandre Brookin are each charged with felony grand theft auto and misdemeanor resisting officers without violence. Benjamin and Tyson also are charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor petit theft, Tampa police said.

Police on Friday arrested the three Tampa teenagers in the Grand Oaks Apartments in Tampa, where Benjamin lives.

About 12:12 p.m. Friday, Benjamin and Tyson knocked on the door of a house in the 1500 block of East Jean Street to gauge whether anyone was there, police said.

When no one answered, the two left, then returned and pried open the front door, police said. The resident, Joyce Maxwell, happened to be inside and, using a pair of crutches, confronted the teenagers.

The teens grabbed the keys to Maxwell's 1997 Chrysler van, which was parked in the driveway, and left, police said. Inside the van was Maxwell's specialized wheelchair.

Maxwell called police, who soon spotted the van cruising through Sulphur Springs. They followed at a distance while calling for backup, police said.

Before extra officers arrived, police saw Benjamin, Tyson and Brookin abandon the van in the 2500 block of East Diana Street, then head into the apartment complex, police said.

Officers found them at Benjamin's apartment. After speaking with the teens, police recovered the woman's wheelchair in a county trash bin.

They returned the wheelchair, the van and the keys to the woman on Friday.

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