MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Authorities charged a Saint Paul man accused of stealing a specialized laptop from a blind woman.
John Harold Richardson, 40, was charged Thursday morning with felony theft.
The woman reported that her backpack was stolen November 18 while riding a Metro Transit bus in downtown Minneapolis. The Braille laptop was inside the backpack.
Authorities reviewed security camera video onboard the bus and found the suspect taking the bag. Metro Transit gave the suspect's picture to officers and bus drivers and told them to keep an eye out for him.
Transit Police officers on patrol in Saint Paul spotted Richardson, who matched the suspect's description. The officers took him in for questioning. Metro Transit Police say investigators questioned Richardson about the laptop and he confessed to taking it.
Authorities were not able to recover the laptop. Richardson allegedly told police he threw the laptop in the dumpster after his mother said she saw him on the news. Someone donated a replacement laptop and software for the victim.
Richardson is being held on $25,000 bond.
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