Post by Enos on Dec 15, 2004 8:50:44 GMT -4
Paraplegic's freedom stolen
Theft of modified Jeep like 'losing my legs all over again'
By JOHN GILLIS / Staff Reporter
A paraplegic Halifax man says the theft of his modified Jeep this week feels like losing his legs a second time.
Brian Scallion of Cowie Hill was badly injured in a 1990 car accident that killed his best friend, Joseph Organ.
He said Tuesday it took a few years before he felt like getting behind the wheel again, but once he had hand controls installed in a vehicle, he regained a measure of freedom.
Mr. Scallion could drive himself to appointments and go on errands without relying on his wife, Carla Wilson, or the Access-A-Bus system.
The black 1986 Jeep Cherokee he has been driving disappeared from outside his Ridge Valley Road apartment building sometime between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon.
Mr. Scallion said he parked the Jeep at about 8 p.m. Sunday. He said his wife, returning from school Monday afternoon, was surprised to find him home when the Jeep wasn't in the lot.
He is devastated by the loss.
"The person who took it certainly knew it was fixed for a handicapped person," he said, noting the hand controls would probably get in the way of a person who didn't need them.
Mr. Scallion said the theft leaves him stranded at home and unsure how he'll get to his regular medical appointments. He said it's hard to get himself around the hilly neighbourhood in his wheelchair, and the Access-A-Bus needs to be booked well in advance and isn't guaranteed.
"(The Jeep) was my only bit of freedom from being stuck in the house," he said. "I could go down and jump in the Jeep and go anywhere I wanted. Now, it's just like losing my legs all over again."
Mr. Scallion is on social assistance and said the vehicle was one of the last things he was able to hold on to as his finances dwindled. He didn't have theft insurance on the Jeep.
"I'm on a very limited budget," he said. "I can't afford to replace it."
He said the modifications cost an extra $1,000.
Mr. Scallion has contacted Halifax Regional Police but said he wouldn't pursue charges if someone could locate the vehicle.
"I'm not looking for anything other than what's rightfully mine back."
Duane - Would the SWAT team be able to help him get to his appointments, etc until he was able to regain transportation for himself?
Theft of modified Jeep like 'losing my legs all over again'
By JOHN GILLIS / Staff Reporter
A paraplegic Halifax man says the theft of his modified Jeep this week feels like losing his legs a second time.
Brian Scallion of Cowie Hill was badly injured in a 1990 car accident that killed his best friend, Joseph Organ.
He said Tuesday it took a few years before he felt like getting behind the wheel again, but once he had hand controls installed in a vehicle, he regained a measure of freedom.
Mr. Scallion could drive himself to appointments and go on errands without relying on his wife, Carla Wilson, or the Access-A-Bus system.
The black 1986 Jeep Cherokee he has been driving disappeared from outside his Ridge Valley Road apartment building sometime between Sunday evening and Monday afternoon.
Mr. Scallion said he parked the Jeep at about 8 p.m. Sunday. He said his wife, returning from school Monday afternoon, was surprised to find him home when the Jeep wasn't in the lot.
He is devastated by the loss.
"The person who took it certainly knew it was fixed for a handicapped person," he said, noting the hand controls would probably get in the way of a person who didn't need them.
Mr. Scallion said the theft leaves him stranded at home and unsure how he'll get to his regular medical appointments. He said it's hard to get himself around the hilly neighbourhood in his wheelchair, and the Access-A-Bus needs to be booked well in advance and isn't guaranteed.
"(The Jeep) was my only bit of freedom from being stuck in the house," he said. "I could go down and jump in the Jeep and go anywhere I wanted. Now, it's just like losing my legs all over again."
Mr. Scallion is on social assistance and said the vehicle was one of the last things he was able to hold on to as his finances dwindled. He didn't have theft insurance on the Jeep.
"I'm on a very limited budget," he said. "I can't afford to replace it."
He said the modifications cost an extra $1,000.
Mr. Scallion has contacted Halifax Regional Police but said he wouldn't pursue charges if someone could locate the vehicle.
"I'm not looking for anything other than what's rightfully mine back."
Duane - Would the SWAT team be able to help him get to his appointments, etc until he was able to regain transportation for himself?
. Ask me how I know 
.