Suspect Accused Of Robbing And Beating 80-Year-Old

Police say an elderly man came to the door, and the suspect forced his way in, knocking down the man.  Then, police say the suspect took the man’s cane and beat him with it.

"A coward, a true coward.  What would make you beat up on an elderly person that way," wondered Mondre Saunders, the victim’s neighbor.

The victim’s grandson calls the violence senseless. 

"If he would have asked my grandfather, my grandfather probably would’ve handed him the money.  That’s the sad part of the situation.  He didn’t have to beat him up, or none of that," said Hank Baker, the victim’s grandson.

Baker says the suspect only got about 50 bucks, and then stole his Grandpa’s car. 

Mondre Saunders saw the suspect take off, and jumped in his own car to follow the suspect.

"It was a couple cars that was almost hit going around through there, so I wanted to be cautious, and like I said my car started, when I pushed real hard on the gas, try to get faster, it started acting a fool," said Saunders.

He needed to get get gas, and then got a call that police caught the suspect.  Police say the suspect crashed into a street sign on Liberty road. 

Police charged James Cushingberry with three driving offenses and robbery. 

Police say they did not charge Cushingberry with assault, because the robbery charge includes use of force.