11/3/20 Hot Springs, AR – Woman Steals Guardian Ambulance From Hospital Ambulance Bay – Guardian EMS Was Cleaning The Ambulance – Woman Resistance While Driving – Arrested

November 3, 2020

www.hotsr.com

A local woman was arrested Monday evening after allegedly trying to steal an ambulance at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs, only to be stopped by an employee who was in the back cleaning.

Robyn Suzanne Baker, 34, who lists a Springwood Road address, was taken into custody shortly before 7 p.m. at CHI and charged with theft of property over $25,000, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Baker, who lists no prior criminal history, remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Garland County District Court Nov. 16, although she will likely be arraigned this week if she doesn’t make bond.

According to the probable cause affidavit, around 6:45 p.m. Monday, Garland County sheriff’s Cpl. Scott Hinojosa and Sgt. Clayton Green were working off-duty security at CHI when Hinojosa was notified someone was trying to steal an ambulance from the ambulance bay at the hospital’s emergency department.

Hinojosa alerted Green, who noted that an ambulance belonging to Guardian EMS of Glenwood was parked 30 yards north of the ambulance bay. Hinojosa detained the woman, later identified as Baker, until Green got there to assist and they took her into custody without further incident.

Ryan Pate, an employee of Guardian, stated he was in the back of the ambulance cleaning when the ambulance suddenly took off. He said he climbed to the front and had to physically restrain the driver, Baker, and command her to stop and put the ambulance in park.

Pate held her there until Hinojosa was able to get her out of the ambulance and on the ground. The affidavit notes the ambulance is a 2019 Ford Transit van, valued at $92,000.