A 51-year-old man was charged after he allegedly stole an ambulance from Rockford Memorial Hospital, police said.
Officers responded to the hospital at 2400 N. Rockton Avenue around 4:39 p.m. after reports that a Metro ambulance had been stolen from the emergency room parking lot.
A paramedic and nurse attempted to stop the suspect from driving away with the ambulance but the suspect drove the ambulance at them, forcing them to run out of the way, according to a release from the Rockford Police Department.
Officers searched the area, but could not locate the ambulance.
Rockford Police later received a call of an ambulance driving recklessly in the area of Springcreek and Perryville Roads. The ambulance, however, could not be found by the time officials arrived.
Eventually, officers were informed that the ambulance was abandoned in McHenry County and that the suspect, 51-year-old Paul Chandler, was at a business in Belvidere.
Belvidere Police Officers located Paul Chandler and he was taken into custody and transported to Rockford.
He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.
