Ferris Witcher

A neighbor's kindness nearly got him killed Sunday.

Chattanooga police arrested a 26-year-old man on charges of stabbing the man who gave him a ride home from the Highway 58 KFC early Sunday morning.

Ferris Witcher is charged with attempted first-degree murder and several other charges after an altercation that left 53-year-old Nathan Pearson with wounds to the face, neck and chest, according to police.

Pearson, 53, gave Witcher a ride home from the KFC, but once they reached their destination on Hancock Road, Witcher demanded money from Pearson, according to police.

A struggle ensued, and Pearson was stabbed. He escaped the vehicle, ran away and called police at 2:53 a.m. Meanwhile, Witcher left in Pearson's 2006 Chevrolet pickup.

Authorities began the day searching for Witcher and asking the public for information on his whereabouts.

But by Sunday evening, online records for the Hamilton County Jail indicated Witcher had been booked and was being held on $150,000 bond.

Updated Jan. 3 at 11:15 p.m.