Ambulance thief leads police on chase, ends in crash and shots fired

An ambulance stolen from Loretto Hospital Friday afternoon led to a police chase and multiple car accidents in the Austin neighborhood.

Cicero paramedics were transporting a patient to the Hospital at around 4 p.m. Friday when a patient being escorted by security jumped into the ambulance.

One paramedic was still in the back of the ambulance when the patient drove away in it, a spokesperson for Cicero police said. That paramedic jumped out of the vehicle after about two blocks, police said.

One of the paramedics at the scene called Chicago police, the Cicero spokesperson said.

The suspect led police on a chase, hitting several vehicles and a marked Chicago Police vehicle near the intersection of Cicero and Chicago avenues, Chicago police said.

The individual driving the ambulance hit two more Chicago police vehicles, police said. At some point, an officer fired their weapon in the direction of the suspect, police said. No one was hit by the gunfire, according to authorities.

After the final crash, the suspect attempted to run away on foot but was taken into custody by police and transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.

Three officers involved in the incident were also taken to area hospitals and treated for various injuries. Four additional people at the scene were taken to area hospitals for “minor injuries” due to the car accidents.

The details of the incident — including the comprehensive use of force investigation — are being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, police said.