Good Samaritan refuses to press charges against hitchhiker who stole his car in pursuit across Calif

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The good Samaritan who tried to help a hitchhiker get to LA before that same man stole his car said he does not want to press charges and does not think the man should be seen as a criminal.

The hitchhiker led the California Highway Patrol on a stolen vehicle pursuit Wednesday afternoon, stretching from Kern to Los Angeles County.

The report of the theft of a Toyota Camry came out of Bakersfield, in the 2300 block of San Lorenzo Ave.

The good Samaritan said what happened to him should not discourage anyone from helping someone in need.

Police responded to a report in Bakersfield just after 3 p.m. from the victim whose Toyota Camry was stolen from his driveway.

KBAK went to the neighborhood in southeast Bakersfield where the report came from to speak to the victim himself, who did not want to give an on-camera statement,

He said the ordeal began in Fresno on the Fourth of July when his mother and niece drove through the area.

He said they told him they saw the man visibly upset on the side of the road.

They asked him if he was OK and he explained he was trying to get back to his “land," located near Big Bear.

He also said he was in Fresno looking for his mother, who he didn’t find.

Since the duo was also heading southbound, they offered to give him a ride to get closer to his destination.

The good Samaritan said he was shopping at the Outlets of Tejon when his mother picked up the man, and said they Facetimed him so he could speak with the hitchhiker.

Over the phone, he said he kept telling the man he was worthy and had value because the man said he felt worthless.

When the group arrived back to Bakersfield, that’s when the good Samaritan met the hitchhiker in person and said he could tell he wasn’t a bad person and just needed help.

The good Samaritan said he kept trying to lift the man’s spirits, letting him know he was worthy of help.

He said he and his family gave him food, clothes, and money, and he took the man to Planet Fitness to shower.

He added they even took the man to a Fourth of July firework event with them that evening.

Because the house they brought the hitchhiker to belonged to the good Samaritan’s aunt, they had to sleep in the car overnight.

The following day, they bought him a train ticket to LA, but then the good Samaritan changed his mind, and decided he was going to drive him.

The hitchhiker was in the car when the good Samaritan went back into the home to tell his family bye.

In those few minutes, that’s when the man took the car, leading to this pursuit.

The chase ended after the PIT maneuver was used on the freeway, leading to the man’s arrest.

The good Samaritan told KBAK the damage to his vehicle is already over $8,000.

He added that he hopes to get in contact with him, so he can help him eventually make it to his destination.

He wanted to stress that he doesn’t feel this man is a bad person and said he is going to continue helping people in need, just in different ways.

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