LAFAYETTE, IN — A Lafayette homeless man took an ambulance for an unauthorized spin about 7:50 p.m. Thursday, according to Lafayette police.
A Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service employee followed the stolen ambulance while reporting the theft to dispatchers, according to police.
Stephen Adams, 39, was a patient inside the ambulance. He was being taken to a hospital, claiming he was under the influence of drugs, according to prosecutors. He became angry and removed his seat belt, according to prosecutors who charged Adams on Friday.
The ambulance driver stopped, and the driver and the paramedic in the back got out of the ambulance, according to prosecutors. This happened on South Street between McCarty and Creasy lanes, police said.
When the ambulance crew got out, Adams shut the back door and hopped into the driver’s seat, leaving the crew by the side of the road, according to prosecutors.
Adams stopped the ambulance near Fire Station 3 at 1710 South St., where officers arrested him, police said.
He is charged with two counts of auto theft, two counts of driving under the influence and two counts of resisting law enforcement. He also is charged with theft and driving as a habitual traffic violator.
Additionally, prosecutors charged Adams with a sentence-enhancing charge of being a habitual vehicular substance abuser.
He remained incarcerated Friday afternoon at the Tippecanoe County Jail, according to jail records.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette man charged with stealing ambulance during drive to hospital