8/15/20 Toledo, OH – Mercy Health St. Vincent’s Medical Center Lifestar Ambulance Stolen From Hospital – 3 County Pursuit By Multi Agencies – Tires Deflated – Texas Man Arrested

August 15, 2020

www.toledoblade.com

A Texas man was arrested early Saturday after leading police on a three-county chase in a stolen ambulance.

Troopers from the Toledo post were dispatched about 3 a.m. to check on an ambulance that was parked along U.S. 24 in Lucas County that had been reported stolen from Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, according to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

When troopers arrived to check on the ambulance, it fled westbound toward Henry County, and troopers’ initial attempt to deflate its tires with stop sticks was unsuccessful.

The ambulance then entered Defiance County, and troopers from the Defiance post were able to deflate the vehicle’s two front tires with stop sticks.

The driver, Johnny Smith of Dallas, was charged with fleeing and eluding and receiving stolen property, and faces other charges lodged by the St. Vincent Medical Center police, troopers said.

The patrol was assisted during the incident by the Henry, Defiance, and Paulding county sheriff’s offices and the Defiance and Napoleon police departments.