Suspected Ambulance Thief in Custody in Georgia

April 07—A suspect was in custody early Tuesday after allegedly stealing an ambulance from outside Grady Memorial Hospital and leading police on a chase through Cobb County before ditching the emergency vehicle in southeast Atlanta.

Channel 2 Action news reported that the American Medical Response ambulance was stolen as the DeKalb County-based paramedics were cleaning out the back of the vehicle. The keys were in the ignition, police said.

Police tracked the stolen ambulance into Cobb County, where officers backed off a chase when speeds got dangerously fast, according to Channel 2.

The suspect later wrecked the ambulance along Kelley Street in southeast Atlanta and fled on foot, but an Atlanta police K9 unit tracked him to where he was hiding in a nearby ditch.

The man, whose name has not been released, will be charged with theft by taking, with other charges pending, Channel 2 reported.