Sheriff: 3 Tulsans Claiming To Be Collecting For Charity Rob, Assault Woman

NewsOn6.com

SALLISAW, Oklahoma -- Three Tulsans are in the Sequoyah County jail after their arrest Sunday on a complaint of robbing a rural Sequoyah County woman.

Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart says 20-year-old Joseph McDowell knocked on the victim's door Sunday morning, claiming to be from a church group collecting for Joplin tornado relief. 

When the victim declined to donate, McDowell forced his way into a home and threw the victim to the ground, breaking a bone behind her eye. 

Lockhart says 20-year-old Shawn Helgeson ransacked the home, taking cash and other valuables.  

The third suspect, 19-year-old Amanda Helgeson, is the daughter of the victim. Shawn and Amanda are a married couple.

The victim was taken to a Sallisaw hospital where she was treated for a broken facial bone.

After ransacking the home, all three fled in a vehicle. 

Sheriff Lockhart says the victim called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle used in the robbery.

A short time later, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper spotted the vehicle near I-40 and U.S. highway 64 and stopped it.

All three were arrested and booked into jail.

The victim's property was recovered after the trooper searched the vehicle.