By Laura French
TOLEDO, Ohio — A Texas man allegedly led Ohio state troopers on a three-county pursuit in a stolen ambulance Saturday.
Ohio State Highway Patrol officials reported that the ambulance was stolen early Saturday morning from Mercy St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo and later spotted parked on the side of a highway in Lucas County, according to the Times Bulletin. When troopers responded to the scene where the rig was parked, the ambulance sped away, initiating a pursuit.
The rig traveled into Henry County where troopers made several unsuccessful attempts to bring it to a halt using stop sticks. The ambulance then made it to Defiance County where troopers from that county’s post managed to deflate the rig’s two front tires using stop sticks.
The rig pulled over and a suspect, Johnny Smith, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested and charged with counts including fleeing and eluding and receiving stolen property.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by three county sheriff’s offices and two police departments during the incident.