Suspect in Custody After Stealing Ambulance, Leading Chicago Police on Daring Chase Through Austin Neighborhood

A dramatic scene unfolded in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago on Friday when an ambulance, stolen from Loretto Hospital, sparked a police chase resulting in multiple vehicle crashes and gunfire. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the ambulance was taken around 4 p.m. by a patient during transfer, handled by Cicero paramedics.

While being escorted by security, in a twist of events, the suspect commandeered the ambulance with one paramedic still on board, who managed to escape by jumping out approximately two blocks away, as the spokesperson for Cicero police informed the Chicago Sun-Times. The pursuit began shortly after a second paramedic alerted the Chicago police.

Throughout the chase, the stolen ambulance collided with several vehicles, including a marked Chicago Police vehicle and two more police vehicles, informed the Chicago police. Miraculously, no individuals were struck by gunfire when an officer, during the chaos, fired their weapon at the fleeing suspect, as authorities confirmed.

After the ambulance was involved in its final crash, the suspect attempted a brief escape on foot before being taken into custody by the police. At the scene, due to the chase, three officers were taken to area hospitals for treatment. And with an additional four people wounded in the accidents, confirmed by NBC Chicago, "minor injuries" were dealt with at local hospitals.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident and the force used by the officers involved. Meanwhile, the individual apprehended after the ambulance crash was reported to be in good condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, closing yet another chapter of the unexpected and hazardous events that took place on the streets of Chicago.