Malden mix-up: Man happy to have wheelchair back a day after it was 'stolen'

MALDEN, Mass. — A Malden man's missing wheelchair has been recovered a day after it was reported stolen.

The detectives working the case had gotten some information about someone who was going around collecting scrap metal.

The investigators called that person and found the chair.

It's been a tough 24 hours for James Norris with his main mode of transportation missing.

James reported his wheel chair missing to Malden police on Wednesday.  One day later, a Malden detective showed up at his door.

"[The detective] jumped out of his car and he said hey we have your chair," Norris said. 
James, who has been using a wheel chair since he was a year-old, has cerebral palsy. He was shocked police tracked it down.

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"I was kind of blown away, to be honest with you,” he told Boston 25 News. “I honestly didn't think I would see it."

James usually keeps the chair in a specific spot at home just outside his front steps -- plugged in so it is charging -- with the top over it. He came down his two flights of stairs Wednesday and it was gone.

Police say the man who grabbed the chair early Wednesday morning thought it was trash. It was actually trash day in James' neighborhood.

He’s just happy he has the chair back -- and he doesn't think the man who took it had any bad intentions.

“He was an out of work painter and had twins at home and he was just trying to make ends meet," James said. "Let's just chalk it up as a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's take the wave of the community outpouring and it lets keep it going and see what we can do to help others."

The police captain in Malden told Boston 25 News they did talk to James and because he was okay with the end result, they are not pursuing charges against the man who took the chair.

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