Wheelchair Bound Tulsa Man Robbed At Knifepoint

Dan Bewley, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A wheelchair bound Tulsa man is looking for two men who robbed him at knifepoint. Bob Fultz has cerebral palsy and crippling arthritis. He was robbed in his apartment more than a week and a-half ago.

Bob Fultz has lived all of his 48 years in a wheelchair. He can move his arms and legs but has little strength. But it didn't stop him from earning two college degrees and running a business where he calls the elderly and disabled from his apartment to make sure they've taken their medication.

"I have the same hopes, dreams, and desires that everybody else does it's just that I have to achieve them in different ways," Fultz said.

But July 7, 2011 Fultz experienced a nightmare. He was home at Murdock Villa apartments when two men broke through his door and threatened him with a knife.

"He actually had a choke hold on me and the knife was right here," Fultz said.

The men took Fultz' cell phone, wallet, and laptop. The cell phone was his connection to friends and family, the wallet had $100 he was saving to repair his van, and the laptop had a $200 voice assisted program that helped him do his job.

Steve Gerkin is one of Fultz' best friends and the first person he called after the incident. He's shocked that someone would rob a person who relies on a wheelchair to get around and hopes whoever's responsible will be found.

"If you know something don't worry about being a bad guy or a snitch, it's important for you to be truthful to yourself, to your god, to your humanity," Gerkin said.

Fultz says he's not upset with the Tulsa Housing Authority, the agency that manages Murdock Villa. He says it's hampered by limited budgets and hopes police can find evidence from the surveillance cameras. Fultz also says he won't this setback keep him from staying positive about life.

"The fortunate thing is I'm still here, I'm still alive. I have a chance to go on living and making a difference and trying to give back to the world as best I can," Fultz said.

Fultz' church has loaned him a laptop until he can get a new one. Fultz says the Tulsa Housing Authority has told him they're looking for ways to increase security.