10/30/24 New Orleans, LA – A Woman Was Arrested For Stealing A New Orleans Ambulance From A Medical Call With The EMTs And The Patient In The Back Of The Ambulance – Another Ambulance Chased The Stolen Ambulance And Blocked It In – Damage To Both Vehicles – Charged With Kidnapping

October 30, 2024

www.msn.com

A woman was arrested after stealing an ambulance in the Tulane area while the EMS crew and patient were in the unit.

New Orleans EMS says they were responding to a medical call around 6:50 p.m. in the 2200 block of Poydras St., at the Ozanam Inn when the ambulance was stolen before later stopping at Broad and Agriculture Streets.

The woman was identified as Valerie Barron.

CEO of the Ozanam Inn, Renee Blanche says Barron came to the shelter for a bed and had a smooth intake process but shortly after, she started having an episode telling staff she was being tased, displaying erratic behavior.

At the same time, EMS was at the shelter helping a male resident with a medical concern when Barron hijacked the ambulance with the patient and EMS personnel inside.

The ambulance and another EMS car sustained damage but no other injuries were reported.

The patient was transferred to another ambulance. New Orleans Police Department says the woman was transported to University Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.

She is being charged with simple kidnapping and various traffic offenses once she is discharged from the hospital.

No other information has been provided at this time.