18-year-old accused of stealing phone from senior in wheelchair at knifepoint

Spokane police on Tuesday arrested a 6-foot-3 18-year-old on suspicion he stole a cellphone from a senior citizen in a wheelchair at knifepoint.

Police say Blue A. Darling, who goes by “Twinkie,” asked to borrow the victim’s phone to call his mother Tuesday afternoon on the 200 block of South Wall Street.

But when the victim asked for his phone back, the victim said Darling refused, threatened him with a knife and ran off, according to Spokane police. The victim told police the lower half of his body is paralyzed and he was unable to defend himself.

Officers recognized Darling’s nickname and located him near West Sprague Avenue and South Howard Street downtown, according to Spokane police. Police also recovered a knife matching the victim’s description from Darling’s backpack.

Darling was booked into Spokane County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, according to jail records. He remained jailed as of Wednesday.

Darling also was arrested in late April on a second-degree robbery charge, according to court records.