EMSA public information officer said leaving an ambulance running is standard procedure
By Jerry Wofford ad Susan Hylton
Tulsa World
TULSA, Okla. — Two men were arrested late Friday after allegedly stealing an EMSA ambulance that officials were able to track through its GPS device. The medics had left the ambulance running while they were inside a QuikTrip at 46th Street North and Lewis Avenue around 10:30 p.m. For the thieves, "it was an opportunity crime. They saw an ambulance and just thought they’d take it," Tulsa Police Cpl.
Darren Bristow said. Casey Sheldon Rowe, 19, was arrested on complaints of larceny of an auto, eluding, possession of marijuana, no driver’s license, running a red light and driving under revocation. Jason Eric Williams, 39, was being held for joyriding. EMSA officials were able to track the ambulance and relay the information to a police dispatcher. Officers caught up with it at U.S. 75 and Oklahoma 11, Bristow said.
The ambulance then went north on Harvard Avenue and eventually stopped at a Sinclair station at Lewis Avenue and Mohawk Boulevard, he said. The two men were taken into custody without incident, he said.
The chase was a "very slow pursuit" because the ambulance was making many turns, Bristow said. EMSA public information officer Chris Stevens said leaving an ambulance running is standard procedure so that medics can leave quickly if they get a call.
However, the ambulances normally are locked while the medics are not with them. Stevens said he didn’t know whether the stolen ambulance was unlocked or whether the locks malfunctioned. Stevens said Saturday that nothing was taken from the ambulance, which had very little damage. "I think the top speed was about 60 mph. Luckily they didn’t take it off road or anywhere crazy," he said.
