COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A man first responders were helping is now facing charges after he gained access to an ambulance and drove away with it, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office.
CCSO says on Saturday at around 11:45 p.m., emergency medical staff, as well as a deputy, were responding to a patient with an altered mental sate, "possibly under the influence of drugs," near Southeast Baya Avenue and State Road 100.
This is when the man allegedly stole the ambulance and drove away from the scene.
He drove the ambulance three miles away with police in pursuit.
He ended up driving the ambulance across the lawn of the CCSO Operations Center, coming to a stop in front of the building. “It’s not every day a pursuit ends at our front door,” Sheriff Mark Hunter said.
The man was taken to the hospital and faces charges of grand theft, fleeing and eluding.
The only damage caused: The ambulance hit a curb and damaged a wheel, and some damage to the operation.