10/14/25 Charden, OH – Intoxicated Man Steals Community Care Ambulance From Hospital – Police Chase – No Lights On – Pulls Over – Arrested

October 16, 2025

www.fox8.com

A man is accused of stealing an ambulance from a local hospital and taking it for a joy ride while intoxicated.

Dashboard camera video shows the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office responding to a call about a stolen ambulance from University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center late Tuesday night.

Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said the incident began at about 11 p.m. when a man, who had been brought to the hospital from Chardon, was waiting to be medically cleared.

“The ambulance was running. There was a man brought to the hospital from Chardon that was intoxicated,” Hildenbrand said. “At some point, he decided he didn’t want to stay there anymore, so he walked out of the hospital, jumped into the ambulance and drove off.”

The video shows deputies following the stolen ambulance for several miles along Ravenna Road before the driver finally pulled over.

The driver, identified as 66-year-old Patrick Dowling, of Hiram, was arrested and charged with grand theft auto, disrupting public service, operating a vehicle under the influence and other related offenses.

Hildenbrand said no one was hurt during the incident.

“Fortunately, he didn’t hurt anyone, which is certainly something that could have happened,” he said. “He was intoxicated and driving an ambulance — everything worked out as well as it could, and he was cooperative when he was arrested.”