Police: Man chases suspect who hit, stole cash from woman in wheelchair

) -- A man is in custody after he allegedly assaulted and took cash from a woman in an electric wheelchair Friday, police said.

The incident happened at a Safeway in the 900 block of East Meridian.

Donna Lenox said she went to the bank inside the store and withdrew about $2,000 in cash.  Lenox said that on her way out, she was attacked by a man.

“He came up, and slugged me in my stomach,” Lenox said.  â€œHe went to grab my money bag, and I held on for dear life, but he got it from me.”

Myron Gillispie saw the man running through the parking lot, and knew something was wrong because of all the screaming and pointing.

“I jumped out of the truck and made a beeline, all the way across the parking lot, for him,” Gillispie said. “When he reached his vehicle, he hopped inside right as I got there.”

The former mixed martial arts fighter ripped the door open.

“He got defensive, so I elbowed him as soon as I got in the door, and pushed him aside, slammed it in park,” Gillispie said.  “That's when I ripped the keys out.”

Then he put the suspect in a sleeper hold when the man reached under his seat.  He allegedly turned out to be stashing the stolen cash, but Gillispie thought he was going for a weapon.  The hold knocked out the suspect, and by that time multiple people had gathered around the truck to keep the suspect in place until police arrived.

“A hero!” Lenox said Friday night.  “I told him next year I'll get him Seahawks tickets, because he's my hero!”