Roberto Acosta
MLive.com, Walker, Mich.
FLINT, Mich. — A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to 6 months of jail time for stealing an ambulance from outside a Flint hospital.
Raymond E. Kibby, 33, was sentenced Monday, March 23 by Genesee Circuit Judge Celeste D. Bell to the jail time, with 41 days credit on charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, third-degree fleeing and eluding police, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated – second offense.
He reached a plea deal in December 2019 that dropped unlawful driving away of an automobile, malicious destruction of fire or police property, and unlawful driving away of an automobile charges.
The charges stemmed from a Nov. 26, 2019 incident which began at McLaren Flint off South Ballenger Highway.
That’s where Kibby stole a STAT EMS ambulance.
The ambulance had just parked following a call and a patient was being delivered to the emergency room shortly after midnight at McLaren Flint off South Ballenger Highway.
Joseph R. Karlichek, Chief Operating Officer for STAT EMS, previously said the ambulance was in the bay outside the emergency room doors at the time of the incident.
The vehicle was unlocked with the keys in the ignition at the time of the theft due to an urgent situation with a patient when paramedics arrived, Karlichek noted.
The ambulance personnel noticed the vehicle was missing when the exited the hospital.
The location of the ambulance was confirmed and 911 was called. No injuries were reported to STAT EMS staff.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said Kibby was at the hospital receiving treatment for heroin withdrawal. He’d been dropped off by his mom after it was noticed he was going through the withdrawals.
Flint Police Chief Phil Hart previously said at least one city unit and several other law enforcement agencies including the Genesee County Park Rangers were involved in the pursuit.
Leyton said it’s “fortunate nobody was hurt” because video from inside the ambulance shows Kibby not stopping at red lights at Court Street and Miller Road.
The ambulance eventually crashed into a tree and hit a police vehicle in the area of Alvord Avenue and Fenton Road.
When Kibby spoke with officers, Leyton said, “He complained to the police that the ambulance wouldn’t go fast enough” because it only reached speeds between 35-40 miles per hour.
He also told police he’d stolen the ambulance to go and buy heroin on the city’s south side, Leyton said.
Kibby will be transported to a 90-day substance use disorder program at New Paths following the jail sentence, per the judge’s sentence.
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