NEEDLES, California — An elderly man in a wheelchair was physically attacked multiple times before anyone could stop it — and the man accused of doing it is now behind bars in San Bernardino County.
Deputies from the Colorado River Station responded on July 30 to a reported disturbance near the 3000 block of Needles Highway. When they arrived, they found the elderly victim sitting in his wheelchair with visible injuries.
He had not provoked a fight. He had not gotten up and walked away. He had nowhere to go.
What investigators found at the scene
Authorities determined that John Norton, 49, of Needles had struck the elderly victim more than once.
The victim sustained superficial injuries, but the nature of the assault — targeting someone who could not defend himself or flee — drew immediate attention from law enforcement.
Norton was taken into custody at the scene.
What remains unanswered
Two questions are still hanging in the air.
Why did Norton attack the victim? Authorities have not released a motive.
And how did the two men know each other? That detail has also not been made public.
Those unanswered questions are exactly what makes this case hard to shake.
Where the case stands now
Norton was booked into the Colorado River Station jail on a charge of elder abuse causing injury. He is being held on $40,000 bail and is awaiting his day in court.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Deputy J. Deruiter at 760-326-9200.
Do you think attacks on vulnerable members of our community are being taken seriously enough? Share your thoughts in the comments.