10/30/18 Fire Department Ambulance Stolen From Structure Fire Scene Where Firefighter Was Injured

October 30, 2018

www.wsaz.com

The morning after an ambulance was stolen in Charleston, police have released the name of the man accused of taking the illegal joyride.

John Charles Pratl, 27, of Tennessee, is the suspect according to the Charleston Police Department.

He is accused of stealing an ambulance from the Charleston Fire Department Tuesday evening. Just after 10 p.m., investigators say the ambulance was taken from the scene of a house fire in the 900 block of Indiana Avenue. That’s on Charleston’s West Side.

A witness told police she saw a man get into the ambulance and drive away. Investigators say the ambulance’s inventory is valued at over $200,000 when fully equipped.

After Metro 911 issued a BOLO (be on the lookout), a deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department spotted the ambulance. It was on Route 119 heading north toward Charleston. Police say the ambulance continued onto MacCorkle Avenue and then to the Kanawha Turnpike.

Officers tried to stop the ambulance near Danner Road, but the driver would not pull over. Police say he eventually stopped near Dorchester Road. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Pratl.

The morning after an ambulance was stolen in Charleston, police have released the name of the man accused of taking the illegal joyride.

John Charles Pratl, 27, of Tennessee, is the suspect according to the Charleston Police Department.

He is accused of stealing an ambulance from the Charleston Fire Department Tuesday evening. Just after 10 p.m., investigators say the ambulance was taken from the scene of a house fire in the 900 block of Indiana Avenue. That’s on Charleston’s West Side.

A witness told police she saw a man get into the ambulance and drive away. Investigators say the ambulance’s inventory is valued at over $200,000 when fully equipped.

After Metro 911 issued a BOLO (be on the lookout), a deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department spotted the ambulance. It was on Route 119 heading north toward Charleston. Police say the ambulance continued onto MacCorkle Avenue and then to the Kanawha Turnpike.

Officers tried to stop the ambulance near Danner Road, but the driver would not pull over. Police say he eventually stopped near Dorchester Road. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Pratl.

At this time the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

It is not clear if anyone was living in the home at the time. Firefighters say there were enough things in the home to make appear that someone lived there.

UPDATE 10/30/18 @ 10:35 p.m.

An ambulance was stolen Tuesday night from the scene of a structure fire in Charleston, Metro 911 dispatchers say.

The fire happened near the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Glen Street. Dispatchers say the Charleston Fire Department ambulance was taken as crews were fighting the fire.

That fire was reported around 9:30 p.m.

Law enforcement officers are searching that general area.

We have a crew headed to the scene.

ORIGINAL STORY 10/30/18

Crews are fighting a structure fire Tuesday night near the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Glen Street, Metro 911 dispatchers say.

No one was reported inside the building at the time of the fire. It is unknown at this time if the building is occupied or vacant.

The fire was reported around 9:30 p.m. The cause is unknown at this time.