Police say a Marietta man who claimed he was "saving the world" is behind bars after allegedly swiping an ambulance from a gas station on Church Street and driving it straight to Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. Hospital staff, along with an off-duty officer working a part-time security shift, helped stop the suspect before he could get into secure areas of the facility. Authorities identified the man as Eric Jacore Jordan and say he is now facing multiple charges.
Police say video shows drinking while driving
According to WSB-TV, a police report states that an EMT supervisor turned over video allegedly showing Jordan behind the wheel of the ambulance on Church Street, drinking a beer, not wearing a seatbelt and driving the stolen vehicle. The ambulance's driver later identified Jordan as the person who took it, according to the report.
The same report says a hospital security guard, who is an off-duty officer working a part-time shift, saw Jordan trying to get in through the emergency medical services bay. Officers detained him after a dispatch alert went out with a description that matched his location.
Where it happened
Wellstar's location page lists Kennestone at 677 Church Street NE in downtown Marietta, which campus police named as the spot where the stolen ambulance was driven and where Jordan was stopped. Wellstar describes Kennestone as a major regional trauma center and notes recent expansions to its patient tower and emergency facilities.
Not an isolated problem
Stolen ambulances are rare but not unheard of. An EMS1 report recalled a 2019 incident in which a man allegedly took a Kennestone ambulance and drove it about 25 miles before it was recovered using in-vehicle GPS locators. That episode highlights how providers and police sometimes rely on technology and quick coordination to track down missing units and limit impacts on emergency response.
Charges and next steps
Jordan was arrested and booked on suspected counts that include driving under the influence, theft by taking (a felony), driving with a suspended license, failure to wear a seatbelt and an open-container violation, according to WSB-TV. Police told WSB that his license had been suspended for failing to appear in court and said video evidence along with admissions by Jordan formed the basis for the arrest.
Court filings or Cobb County charging documents will show whether prosecutors seek formal indictments and when any hearings are scheduled.
