We’re actually going to get serious here for a moment…

A St. Paul, Minnesota, man stops his car to help an injured 14-year-old girl who had flagged him down.  What does the good samaritan get in return for his kindness?  An indictment for kidnapping and false imprisonment, after the girl fabricates an elaborate tale of abduction.

All children lie.  It’s a defense mechanism they learn early, in order to avoid punishment.  This “victim” fabricated hers, ostensibly to avoid punishment by her parents for her being out with some loser boyfriend who was likely the cause of her injuries in the first place.

Eventually, the genuine facts come to light and the man is exonerated when charges are dropped.  But not before he had posted bond, lost his job, lost his car in impound, had his mug plastered all over the media, and spent several grueling months making his defense.  We hope his attorney was pro bono.

The man was only trying to help, to do the right thing.  And he now says he will never do that again.  Can’t blame him one bit.

Oh, and did we mention that the good samaritan is an African immigrant?  That fact no doubt fed the flames of the witch-hunt, what with the increasing anti-immigrant attitudes these days.

If you encounter someone in trouble, the best thing you can do is call 911 on your cell phone, then leave.  Don’t get involved.  Someone–the “victim,” the police, an overzealous prosecutor–will invariably twist the facts around and you will find yourself under suspicion just for being there.  In some types of altercations, you can end up injured or killed just for stepping in.  When the shit hits the fan you’ll get some of it on you.  Is it worth it?