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N.C. man steals ambulance from hospital, leads 50-mile pursuit to another hospital

Authorities say a man took a Randolph County EMS ambulance from one hospital and drove it across counties before being arrested at another

By Mark Price
The Charlotte Observer

RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — A confounding police chase covered more than 50 miles after a man decided to take an ambulance from one hospital and drive it to another hospital in the next county, according to investigators in North Carolina.

It happened Wednesday, March 18, and began when the 27-year-old man took an ambulance parked at Randolph Health hospital in Asheboro, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

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“RCSO was advised that it was believed the driver, who was identified as Allen Morgan, was en route to Moore Regional Hospital,” the sheriff’s office said.

“A traffic stop was initiated, but the driver refused to stop. The pursuit continued South on 220 Business Alternate and ultimately traveled into Moore County. Multiple agencies assisted in the pursuit.”

The pursuit ended at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, where the driver was arrested, the sheriff’s office said.

Morgan’s motive for trying to reach the hospital was not released.

Randolph County EMS says the ambulance was “dropping off a patient shortly before 6 a.m. at Randolph Health” when Morgan climbed into the driver’s seat and sped away, The Sandhills Sentinel reports.

No injuries were reported and no sheriff’s office vehicles were damaged during the chase, officials said.

Morgan has been charged with:

  • Felony larceny of a motor vehicle
  • Felony possession of stolen motor vehicle
  • Felony fleeing to elude arrest with motor vehicle
  • Misdemeanor driving while license revoked-not impaired
  • Misdemeanor resisting public officer
  • Misdemeanor misuse of 911 system
  • Misdemeanor hit/run fail to stop property damage
  • Drive the wrong way on dual lane
  • Failure to stop steady red light

Morgan is being held under a $15,000 bond, officials said.

Asheboro is about an 85-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.

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