Costa Mesa man fighting cancer gets a surprise gift from police: a new tricycle after his was stolen
Phil Cartier couldn’t stop smiling Tuesday as he took his new red adult tricycle for a spin outside the Cyclist bike shop on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa.
The new ride — a surprise gift from local police — replaces a tricycle that was stolen from a storage pod outside Cartier’s Costa Mesa home in December.
It’s a bright spot in a difficult time in the 66-year-old’s life.
“I’m in love with it; it’s better than the one that was stolen,” Cartier told KABC-TV/7.
Cartier is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and he and his wife, Katie, are selling their home to help pay for his medical treatments, the couple said.
They placed his old tricycle, which he rode to exercise, in a storage pod outside their home, and less than a day later, discovered it was stolen.
Costa Mesa police Officer Trevor Jones heard about the theft and worked with the Costa Mesa Police Assn., the union for rank-and-file officers, and the Cyclist to replace the tricycle.
“It really hit home for me,” Jones told the Daily Pilot. “My bike is my favorite way to get enjoyment on my days off. We all agreed that we wanted to do something for him.”
The union helped pay for the new tricycle, which typically sells for about $400.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
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