A Gainesville man stole a car from a man who offered him a ride home.
According to an Alachua County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Carlos Wims, 20, was arrested Monday morning and charged with stealing 37-year-old Charles Todd's black Ford Focus after Todd gave him a ride.
Todd said the two men used to work together as day laborers.
Wims recognized Todd at a Kangaroo gas station and asked him for a lift.
Todd said he'd drive Wims to Santa Fe Trace Apartments, where Todd lived. Wims agreed.
When Todd pulled up to the parking lot, Wims asked to borrow the car to drive to The Crossing, where his friends were. Todd said no.
Wims started beating on his chest and throwing punches, so Todd said he got out of the car rather than risk his life.
"F**k it," he said. "I'm not going to kill this guy over a car."
Wims then drove off with the car, and Todd called 911. Police arrived while Todd was still on the phone.
According to the arrest report, Gainesville Police found the car at a nearby gas station around 2 a.m., and Wims was arrested and transported to Alachua County Jail. Police then drove Todd to pick up his vehicle. He said he learned a lesson about being too nice.
"It was a cold night, I thought I was doing the right thing," he said. "I was trying to help a brother out."
