By EMS1 Staff
SAN DIEGO — Police arrested a 52-year-old man who stole an ambulance from outside a hospital Saturday and led San Diego police on a 12-minute chase.
Paul John Sos was finally stopped when police laid down spike strips, blowing out the ambulance tires.
He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, auto theft, evading police and driving on a suspended license, according to San Diego 10 News.
Sos had been taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital earlier in the day after being found drunk in public. Sgt. Ray Battrick told 10 News Sos checked out on his own and found the ambulance unattended with the keys in the ignition when he decided to take it on a spin, driving only 20 miles an hour on average.
Paramedic Dan Summers told NBS San Diego this happens from time-to-time. “Every time this happens, it’s had a bad outcome for the thief, I can tell you that,” Summers said.
“If there’s anything I can say to discourage people from stealing ambulances, [it’s that] it doesn’t turn out well for them.”