MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie woman battered and robbed a wheelchair-bound man on Thursday.
According to court documents, officers with the Muncie Police Department first became aware of Loni Renae Fleming’s activity when they responded to the 2000 block of South Penn Street on a report of theft.
When police arrived at the scene, they spoke with the victim, who explained he suffers from a chronic disease. The individual explained he uses a wheelchair as a result of his disease.
The victim also told officers Fleming came to his residence to visit him on Thursday. During the visit, the victim dropped his phone on the floor.
When his phone hit the floor, Fleming grabbed the victim by his pants and pulled him from his wheelchair. Once she pulled the victim from his chair, Fleming took his phone and $300 sitting on one of the man’s tables.
After speaking with the victim, police began to search for Fleming. Officers checked their records to see if Fleming had any recent criminal history.
During their records search, investigators determined Fleming might reside in the 1400 block of West 10th Street. A subsequent examination of the area helped officers locate a car believed to belong to Fleming.
According to court documents, police located Fleming outside a residence near where the car was parked. Upon speaking with Fleming, law enforcement began to suspect she was intoxicated because her speech was slurred, she smelled of alcohol and her eyes were bloodshot, red and watery.
Police detained Fleming, and as they were doing so, she fell into a nearby bush because she was putting up “a small amount of resistance.”
Officers also reported that Fleming had a black Reebok bag on her person when they found her. Police located 71.7 grams of plant-like material believed to be marijuana, a digital scale and plastic baggies inside the Reebok bag.
Fleming has been preliminarily charged with robbery, theft, dealing in marijuana and battery against a disabled person. All four of the charges are felonies.
The most severe of the charges Fleming faces — robbery — is a Level 5 Felony in Indiana. The maximum penalty for a Level 5 Felony in the Hoosier State is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.
