When the battery on a Brainerd woman's power wheelchair died Thursday, teamwork from a passerby and police officers from two local departments helped her get home.
John Forrest, retired president of Brainerd Savings and Loan, was on his way home about 5:30 p.m. from a meeting when he saw the woman stopped in the middle of the sidewalk near the intersection of Southwest Fourth and Charles streets. He said his car was one of many traveling along the route, and he drove past her at first.
"I got up about a block or two and thought, something seems funny," Forrest said by phone Friday.
He turned around and asked the woman, a double amputee, whether she needed help. The woman told Forrest the battery on her wheelchair died on her way home from Best Buy in Baxter, more than 2 miles away.
"I have no idea how long she was there," Forrest said.
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Forrest went back to his car to retrieve winter gloves, apparel he said he was grateful for on a windy and cold March evening. The National Weather Service in Duluth reported it felt like 6-8 degrees at the time with the windchill. Winds ranged from 9-15 mph.
Attempts to move the wheelchair were stymied first by brakes, which Forrest figured out how to disengage, and then because power wheelchairs are difficult to move when not powered.
Forrest saw a Brainerd police car drive by and he waved at Brainerd officer Travis Kostreba, who stopped to help. Soon after, Pequot Lakes officer Matt Jorgens, who was leaving the county jail, saw Forrest and Kostreba attempting to help the woman and stopped as well.
Together, the three men pushed the wheelchair south on Southwest Fourth Street, up a small hill and over railroad tracks to a nearby apartment building.
"It took all three of us," Forrest said. "I'm very, very pleased that the two law enforcement officers were there."
Jorgens said he'd never pushed a power wheelchair before and was surprised how heavy it was. The weather compounded the situation, he added.
"It was cold," Jorgens said. "It was getting down to the single digits with the windchill. It was pretty windy so that was making it worse."
Abigail Faas and her young daughter were driving by when they witnessed the scene. Faas said she decided to stop and take photos in recognition of the law enforcement officers' good deed.
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"My little girl was in the back and said, 'Why are the cops helping her? I thought they just found bad people,'" Faas said. "I told her cops are here to do a lot more than that. ... It was nice to see, and it was a good lesson for the kids."
Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston said he was proud of the response of the officers and Forrest.
"It's all too often that we don't get the true opportunity to help people that need a little extra help," McQuiston said. "It was great that they could be in the right spot at the right time to help somebody out."
Kostreba was unavailable for comment and the woman who received assistance was unable to be reached.
