Don’t Fall for the “Good Samaritan”: How a Crash Victim Was Robbed by His ‘Rescuer’

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Mahwah NJ, a terrifying car crash in Suffern, NY, took an even darker turn when a man pretending to be a Good Samaritan robbed the unconscious victim. Mahwah Police are calling it a case of theft, not a rescue. This shocking incident serves as a stark reminder that appearances can be deceiving, especially in the moments following an emergency.

A Crash, A ‘Helper,’ and a Crime

The unsettling sequence of events began on August 26, when a 56-year-old Suffern, NY, man crashed his vehicle into a restaurant, sustaining life-threatening injuries. When police arrived, they found a man inside the crashed car, seemingly “tending to the unconscious driver.” This individual, later identified as Daniel Santos, 49, from Mahwah, appeared to be a heroic bystander, but his true motives were far more sinister.

Approximately 15 minutes after the crash, the victim’s family began receiving alerts about fraudulent charges on his credit cards. These charges were made at businesses in both Rockland County, NY, and Mahwah, NJ.

The Investigation Unravels the Deception

Mahwah and Suffern police departments quickly collaborated, reviewing surveillance footage from the businesses where the stolen credit cards were used. The video evidence not only showed Santos making the purchases but also revealed he was wearing the victim’s watch, which was valued at over $3,000.

This damning evidence led police to Santos, who was apprehended in Mahwah on September 4. A subsequent search of his home uncovered more than just the stolen property. Police also found several ounces of cocaine, a scale, and packaging materials.

Charges Pile Up for the Suspects

Daniel Santos now faces a string of serious charges, including:

• Receiving stolen property
• Use of a stolen credit card
• Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
• Possession of cocaine
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Additionally, a second resident of the home, Natalie Sarkissian, 34, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mahwah police confirmed that Santos and Sarkissian had been arrested on drug charges just a month prior but were released. Both are now in Bergen County Jail awaiting a court hearing.

 

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