By John Horton
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Copyright 2006 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
A psychiatric patient overpowered two paramedics and hijacked their ambulance Tuesday morning while en route to a Geauga County hospital for medication, sheriff’s officials said.
The woman — described in a frantic 9-1-1 call by one of the paramedics as violent and out of control — then spent roughly a half-hour driving the rescue vehicle along U.S. 322, where the attack took place in Claridon Township.
State Highway Patrol troopers eventually stopped Victoria Madge’s getaway by flattening three of the ambulance’s tires at the highway’s intersection with Ohio 46 in Ashtabula County. She traveled more than 17 miles and crossed five townships while on the lam.
Madge, 33, of Willoughby, is expected to face an assortment of criminal charges, including theft of an ambulance, robbery, assault and fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers, according to Geauga Sheriff Dan McClelland and State Highway Patrol Lt. Jim Sivak.
Both paramedics — Stacey Hall, 32, and Erin Roesch, 21 — suffered injuries, but were treated at Geauga Regional Hospital and released, according to their employer, the Ashtabula-based Community Care Ambulance.
Hall and Roesch picked up Madge from Grand Valley Country Manor in Windsor on Tuesday morning.
Roesch told sheriff’s dispatchers that Madge refused to take her medication at the care facility and was to be taken to Geauga Hospital for forced treatment.
Madge left Grand Valley willingly, Roesch said in her taped 9-1-1 conversation.
But midway through the 20-minute ride, “she freaked,” said Roesch, who was riding in the back with Madge while Hall drove.
While Roesch talked by cell phone with the hospital to give an estimated time of arrival, Madge secretly undid the three safety straps holding her on the gurney. Once free, Madge pounced on Roesch, clawing at her face and choking the paramedic, McClelland said.
Hall heard the commotion and stopped on U.S. 322, west of Ohio 608. She ran to the back of the truck and opened the doors to help her partner.
Madge responded by kicking Hall to the pavement, McClelland said.
As a dazed Hall ran to a nearby house for help, Madge resumed her attack on Roesch. Eventually, Madge flung Roesch out of the back of the ambulance and commandeered the vehicle, McClelland said. A battered and bloodied Roesch dialed 9-1-1 on her cell phone as Madge drove away.
“Please help . . . please,” Roesch shouted. “Our ambulance just got stolen by a psych patient.”
Madge drove west on U.S. 322 before turning around and heading back east, driving past Roesch and Hall in the process. Madge picked up the ambulance’s radio microphone and began talking, rambling about her plight and medical treatment. Her words were recorded.
She called herself a victim and a prisoner, and then added, “I don’t like being a victim or a prisoner.”
Sheriff’s Lt. Scott Niehus broke in over the radio several times, trying in vain to talk Madge into stopping.
Meanwhile, a state trooper saw the ambulance a few miles after it crossed into Ashtabula County from Geauga and began tailing the vehicle. A second trooper set spikes in the road ahead, which punctured three tires on the rescue vehicle and ended Madge’s jaunt about 10 a.m.
Madge surrendered peacefully and was taken to the Geauga Jail, McClelland said.
News Researcher Cheryl Diamond contributed to this story.