Patient steals ambulance in Santa Rosa

( KRON ) — An ambulance was stolen in Santa Rosa while paramedics responded to a medical emergency call Wednesday night, according to the Sonoma County Fire District. The incident unfolded at around 8 p.m. when emergency crews responded to a 911 call from Russian River Pub on 725 4th Street.

An employee at the pub told dispatchers that a man at the business “appeared to be in an altered state,” the Santa Rosa Police Department said. Police officers and the mental health support team InResponse contacted the man, who told authorities he was having an anxiety attack and wanted to go to the hospital.

When officers offered to drive the man, later identified as Jorge Sanchez Rodriguez, 36, of Sonoma, to the hospital, he declined and asked for an ambulance instead. A Sonoma County Fire District ambulance arrived, and a paramedic met with Rodriguez outside of the vehicle.

Rodriguez then suddenly ran and jumped into the driver’s seat of the ambulance before speeding away from the scene, authorities said. A second ambulance member, who was preparing to transport Rodriguez in the back of the vehicle, was still inside and became trapped.

Santa Rosa police pursued the stolen ambulance as it traveled down Santa Rosa city streets. An officer set up spike strips across the road and successfully punctured and deflated both driver’s side tires. Rodriguez continued to drive until officers deployed more spike strips, which deflated the remaining tires.

Rodriguez eventually stopped driving the ambulance at Memorial Hospital, where he got out and laid down on the ground with his hands out, police said.

The emergency medical technician who was trapped in the back of the ambulance was safe and uninjured, authorities said.

After being taken into custody and placed in the patrol car, Rodriguez began to kick the window and hit his head against the security screen, according to Santa Rosa PD. Rodriguez was then placed on a gurney to be transported to the Sonoma County Main Adult Detection Center where he was booked for vehicle theft, reckless evading, kidnapping, resisting an executive officer and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

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