Ervin D. Alexander snapped after ambulance theft and led cops on chase: cops

A North Carolina man was arrested after stealing an ambulance with keys from a restaurant parking lot and leading police on a wild chase, authorities said.

Winston-Salem Police say Ervin D. Alexander, 37, ambushed the Catawba County ambulance around 11:16 a.m. Friday morning, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

The ambulance remained on duty as there were refrigerated medicines in the vehicle. Police said Alexander climbed into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and fled.

Two county EMTs in charge of the vehicle were having breakfast at a nearby restaurant and didn’t realize it was stolen until they finished their meal and went back outside.

Patrol Sgt. SD Martin said the ambulance was traveling west on Interstate 40 into Iredell County. He said the soldiers got behind the ambulance about 40 miles west of Winston-Salem and tried to stop it. The chase lasted three miles until Iredell County deputies used tire deflation devices to brake the vehicle to a full stop.

Alexander, of Winston-Salem, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing to evade arrest and resisting an officer. His bail was set at $125,000.

With postal wires.