Pizza Hut Delivery Driver Allegedly Demoted for Defending Himself Against Teen Attackers

(Photo: Screen Shot/Fox45)

A college student delivering pizzas for a little extra cash has been demoted by Pizza Hut after defending himself against a group of teen attackers, Fox45 reports.

Sam Swicegood was in the Glen Burnie area of Maryland-- where a friend of his was recently robbed at gunpoint-- so he hid a fiberglass tent pole up his sleeve before approaching the residence.

“It’s a little fiberglass [rod] I had up my sleeve, not thinking I would actually have to use it, but more or less having a little comfort up my sleeve,” he explained.

But Swicegood was glad he had it when a group of teenagers attacked him.

(Photo: Screen Shot/Fox45)

After at least one of them punched Swicegood in the face, he reportedly beat them back with the pole before escaping.

“Five people against one is not a good situation to be in,” he elaborated for Fox News. “I thought I was going to die.”

But that's only where the story begins.

Fox News continues:

Police later found three of the attackers – a 13-year-old boy and two 14-year-olds. They were charged with robbery, second degree assault and reckless endangerment, according to the Capital Gazette.

Instead of rewarding his quick thinking, Swicegood said he was punished by Pizza Hut. The college student said he was demoted to the restaurant’s kitchen staff. His hours and his pay were also slashed.

He said company officials told him he violated Pizza Hut’s ['no weapon policy'] – and apparently the fiberglass tent pole was considered a weapon.

“I’m not saying we should arm all delivery drivers, but I’m saying that punishing delivery drivers for defending themselves as they’re being attacked is unjust,” he told Fox News.  [Emphasis added]

Fox News aggregated a few of the story's comments, one of which read: “There you go...Punish law-abiding citizens for protecting themselves against criminals.”

Pizza Hut has yet to comment on the matter.