This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
For Unified Police, it was the case of the Slashed Samaritan, and that's not good.
About 1:10 a.m. Friday, a 29-year-old man was leaving a 7-Eleven store at 3900 S. Wasatch Drive when he was approached by the male suspect, who asked for a ride. However, once they were underway, the suspect pulled a knife and told the victim he was taking the car.
To underscore his demands, the suspect cut the driver on the hands and arms until he pulled over at a nearby Sinclair station and jumped out, only to watch his attacker drive off.
Dispatched after the victim called 911, UPD officers made sure the man was treated for his minor wounds by paramedics at the scene and released, and then began to hunt for the carjacker.
The Utah Highway Patrol soon after found the car abandoned in the middle of southbound Interstate 215 near 50th South. UPD officers joined troopers in searching the area and spotted the suspect in some brush along eastbound I-215 near Wasatch Boulevard.
He was taken into custody, along with a knife believed used in the crime.
Hoyal said the 20-year-old suspect was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of felony aggravated robbery, aggravated assault and vehicle theft, as well as numerous misdemeanors ranging from providing false information to a police officer, shoplifting, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.
"He was just trying to be a Good Samaritan," Hoyal said of the victim, adding that good intentions aside, people should be wary of offering rides to strangers.
Twitter: @remims