JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A Salvation Army worker from Tuscaloosa, Alabama says he was beaten and robbed when he took a wrong turn onto Bailey Avenue in Jackson Tuesday morning.
The worker told local Salvation Army officials he left the Cabot Lodge on North State Street and headed out Woodrow Wilson Avenue for the Salvation Army warehouse on Ford Avenue. He says he took a wrong turn on Bailey Avenue and when he tried to turn around he was attacked. Two black male robbers broke the glass out of his truck, took his cell phone, a GPS device and several hundred dollars in cash. Major Ken Chapman told us about the incident.
"It's a disaster worker who works in our long term recovery in Tuscaloosa, who came to help us here in Jackson, with our warehousing getting ready for Isaac," said Chapman. "This guy came with compassion to help, help people in harm's way and he comes to our city and he gets repaid by getting beat up and mugged."
The worker said he went to the Exxon station at Woodrow Wilson to call police. Police say they got the call about 6:30 a.m. and the robbery took place around 5:45 a.m. Mark Jones, spokesman for the Salvation Army, also told us about the incident.
"We are frustrated but at the same time resolved to meet the needs of those who are hurting. Not only in the Jackson area, but also as a result of the current Hurricane Isaac," said Jones.
The truck was clearly marked as a Salvation Army vehicle, so it is likely that whoever did the attack knew it was a Salvation Army worker they were attacking.
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