Good Samaritan: Deed Lands Man in Emergency Room

By: Arthur Mondale/Eyewitness News 9 | WNCT
Published: May 02, 2008

What would you do if someone walked up to your door asking to use your phone in an emergency.
Would you open the door to help them out?
Well one person did and it ended badly...
Sometimes, being a Good Samaritan can put you in bad situations.
Police say sometimes doing a good deed isn't your best bet.
"It's gotten dangerous and you have to know your surroundings--look out for yourself, no one else can do it for you,” said Lee Moore, Chief Investigator, Pitt County Sheriff's Office.
Even in your own home.
Wednesday night authorities responded to the home of a 23-year-old in Farmville.
The man said two men jumped him and beat him with wire cutters.
He said one man came to his home on askew road claiming to have car trouble and asking for a cell phone.
The Good Samaritan homeowner decided to help the stranger.
“He attempted to make three calls to someone and got no one and handed the phone back and proceeded to assault him,” Moore said.
Meanwhile a hidden accomplice jumped in to pummel the man.
They got away with credit cards and $110 in cash.
They also say, what landed the homeowner in the hospital could have been avoided.
"If someone were to knock on your door--ask them through the door who are you? What do you want? If they want to make a phone call you do it for them,” Moore adds.
And one of the most important things to avoid? Hitchhikers.
"You've got a stranger in your car,” Moore said. “You're locked in and you don't know what they've got on their mind."
But remember, if you were the one in need of help...others might not be too willing to help you out.

Moore says before helping someone out consider the circumstance first.
You may or may not be able to help.
He said most of the time, helping in a car wreck is okay but avoid helping someone when you're alone.