The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man allegedly stole an ambulance and forced the police to chase him when the paramedics said they would not give him a ride home.
On the evening of March 15, a 43-year-old man was at the HCA South Tampa Hospital, and he asked paramedics from the Tampa Fire Rescue if they would give him a ride home in the ambulance. His request was denied, and the man allegedly jumped into the vehicle and drove away. Florida Highway Patrol was notified about the situation, and troopers began searching for the ambulance. They quickly found it, and when they tried to perform a traffic stop, the driver allegedly ignored them and forced them to chase him down.
According to reports, the troopers trailed him as he failed to stop at multiple stop signs, turned into oncoming traffic, and almost caused several collisions with other vehicles. When he finally stopped, a deputy’s dash cam reportedly displayed the man sitting in the ambulance after refusing to get out and drinking from a can of what was believed to be beer. The police tried to physically take him out of the vehicle, but he reportedly resisted by gripping the steering wheel. After he was removed, he was identified as a homeless individual from the Tampa area. When they talked to him about what occurred, he allegedly said he had been drinking for two days prior to the incident.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail. He is facing several preliminary charges including burglary of an emergency vehicle, grand theft of an emergency vehicle, fleeing and eluding, driving while license suspended, resisting arrest, and DUI. According to reports, he is currently being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail in lieu of a $33,513.00 bond.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.