Man Steals Ambulance After Drinking Cleaning Supplies
A Wisconsin man, found naked and under the influence of a chemical cleaner, reportedly hijacked an ambulance carrying a seriously ill patient and led police on a wild chase through desolate areas.
Benjamin L. Felts was able to sneak into an ambulance in Wisconsin Rapids on a Tuesday as paramedics were tending to a patient. While they were focused on their work, they were startled to find him in the driver’s seat.
As they shouted, “What are you doing?”, he demanded they get out. One of the paramedics rushed to assist the intoxicated man, but Felts took off in the ambulance.
Following his abrupt getaway, the other paramedics quickly exited the vehicle, leaving the patient behind. Police noticed the stolen ambulance and attempted to pull it over, but Felts accelerated, setting off an intense high-speed pursuit.
According to reports, he led officers on an 18-mile chase that reached speeds exceeding 190 miles per hour, which lasted over 40 minutes. Meanwhile, the patient in the back voiced her fears, exclaiming, “I’m dying of kidney disease.”
The ambulance, siren blaring, veered wildly down a dirt road near the Cranberry Creek Landfill, oblivious to safety as it rushed toward Interstate 73.
Things escalated when police managed to use a tire deflation device. Felts showed “aggressive behavior” during the chase in Pittsfield, Wisconsin, as noted in police reports.
Ultimately, his escapade ended when the ambulance became lodged in a muddy cornfield, where he was apprehended.
Body camera footage caught the moment he exited the vehicle naked as an officer drew his weapon.
Felts, who had been drinking and exhibited slurred speech, later admitted to consuming half a bottle of Fabuloso cleaner. He also mentioned feeling some kind of unusual “pressure points” in his body.
With a history of two prior drunk driving offenses and lacking a valid driver’s license, he now faces four felony charges and six misdemeanors, including first-degree recklessness and endangerment. He is currently being held on a $100,000 bail.
