Limestone County authorities were searching for three Huntsville men Thursday who earlier in the day forced their way into the home of a handicapped man, robbing him of his T-mobile Sidekick cell phone after threatening to harm him with a tire tool.

“We think we know who they are,” said Limestone County Chief Investigator Capt. Stanley McNatt. “We believe all three suspects live in Huntsville and we expect to make arrests real soon.”

McNatt said the three men became upset when a roommate relative of the deaf man who lived in the home offered them only $5 for gasoline after they gave him a ride home to his residence on the 22000 block of Buttermilk Way.

“They were angry at this individual when he only came up with $5,” McNatt said. “One of the men grabbed a tire tool and all three went inside the home where the deaf man was. One of the men grabbed the man’s laptop computer and tried to take it. Then he got the Sidekick cell phone and left.”

McNatt said the cell phone is used by the handicapped and is valued at $600.

No one got hurt as the result of the robbery, McNatt said. He said the suspects are white males who are acquainted with the man who lives with the victim.

“They had been to Huntsville and apparently they wanted more money than the Limestone County man could produce for gas,” McNatt said. “The deaf man inside the house was an innocent victim.”

Lt. Brad Curnutt is investigating.