The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a utility vehicle that was modified to allow a military veteran who uses a wheelchair to drive it around his family farm in the 2400 block of Flucom Road southeast of De Soto. The 2015 Polaris Ranger Crew was valued at somewhere between $25,000 and $30,000, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The UTV, which is fitted with a power wheelchair ramp and hand controls, was reported stolen at about 11 a.m. July 22. The victim, Robert Huskey, 86, of Chesterfield, said he served in the U.S. Army after being part of the National Guard. He said he was injured while serving in the military and has used a wheelchair since 1956. He said the customized UTV allowed him to enjoy his family’s farm, the report said.
“This isn’t the end of the world, but it is one of my pleasures, riding around and enjoying nature,” Huskey said. “This denies me that.”
The UTV was last seen on July 18. It was taken from a barn on the property after a door was pried open, Huskey said.
“From what I can tell, they backed through the door,” Huskey said. “My assumption is they tried to open the door all the way, couldn’t and they backed through it.”
Huskey said the keys were with the UTV, but it was inside the locked barn.
He said it will be costly to have another UTV customized for him.
“It is one of a kind,” said Huskey, who said he filed a claim with his insurance carrier to help offset the cost. “The interesting thing about it to me is there is a governor (a device that limits the speed) on it, and it is set at 10 mph. If they tried to roar off, anyone could have caught them. I could have caught them I think, even in my chair.”
As of July 26, the UTV had not been recovered, and no suspects has been identified, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said. He asked anyone with information about the UTV to call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515.