04-16-18 Bainbridge, GA Woman admits to using Meth steals Grady EMS Ambulance from Bainbridge Hospital – 80 MPH Chase by Decatur Sheriff’s Deputies. Finally stopped

By ABC 27 WTXL

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WTXL) – A woman has been arrested after deputies say she stole an ambulance from a local hospital.

An incident report says that a Bainbridge Public Safety officer first made contact with Alicia Barrineau at Bainbridge Memorial Hospital & Manor Sunday morning around 5:40 a.m.

She told the officer that she had come to the hospital earlier for a mental health evaluation. Barrineau claimed that while she was in the hospital, she head one of the nurses making rude comments about her, so she left and called 911.

She said that she had been feeling anxious and wanted to go to a safe place. The report says she asked the officer for a ride to Walmart, who agreed.

However, when the officer opened the door, Barrineau asked, “What was that?” and stated she wasn’t getting in the patrol car. From there, she fell silent so the officer asked her what she wanted to do. Barrineau answered, saying she wanted to speak to someone about her anxiety.

The officer gave her the number to Georgia’s mental health crisis hotline, but when Barrineau called and an operator answered, she hung up the phone.

Around this time, an ambulance arrived at the hospital and parked in front of the emergency room. The document notes that Barrineau was staring at the ambulance without saying anything before stating that she was going back to the hospital for help.

The officer watched for a while before responding to another call for loud music.

Nearly an hour later, Bainbridge Public Safety was dispatched to the hospital around 6:25 a.m. Sunday about a stolen ambulance.

BPS tried to stop the ambulance once they found it, but were unable to get the vehicle to stop. Instead, the ambulance sped up, reaching approximately 80 mph when it crossed city limits on Tallahassee Highway.

Once the ambulance passed into Attapulgus, a Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputy caught up to the ambulance and switched his car radio to the EMS frequency to speak with the driver, identified as Alicia Barrineau.

The deputy talked Barrinaeu into stopping and she got out of the car. However, she ran into the center of the road before running towards the deputy’s vehicle.

She was detained as she ran by and the ambulance was recovered. There was no property damage or injuries reported in the incident.

When investigators spoke with Barrineau, she said that she took the ambulance because she wanted to get away. She admitted that she had used crystal meth in the past and had used it several days ago.

However, she said she didn’t remember when she used it. She also told them she couldn’t think straight and needed time to think things out.

Barrineau has been charged with theft by taking (felony) and fleeing a police officer (misdemeanor). She remains in the Decatur County Jail on a $8,650 bond.