1/2/21 Ogden, UT – Medical Call – Ogden FD Ambulance 3 Was Stolen From The Street While Patient Was Prepared For Transport – Ambulance Missing For Hours – Found Abandoned

January 2, 2021

www.kutv.com

The Ogden Police Department is currently searching for a person of interest in connection to a theft of an ambulance that occurred early Sunday morning.

According to a press release from the Ogden Fire Department, crews responded to a medical emergency at the Union Garden Apartments at approximately 2:50 a.m. on Sunday. Crews parked Ambulance 3 and entered the apartment, providing medical care to the patient and prepared for the patient to be transported to the hospital.

When crews returned outside with the patient, they discovered that Ambulance 3 had been stolen. Crews then arranged for another ambulance to transport the patient and also notified the Ogden Police Department.

Ogden police began tracking the ambulance’s location and put out a request for citizen assistance on Facebook.

At around 8:00 a.m., a citizen contacted police and reported that an ambulance was spotted in a neighbor’s backyard.

Michael Slater, the Deputy Chief of Medical Operation at the Ogden Fire Department, reported in the press release that there was no damage to the ambulance and that nothing was stolen from it. The motive behind the theft is currently unknown.

The fire department said that while they are grateful that the recovery of the stolen ambulance was a success, it did compromise patient care. “The delay in patient care while waiting for a second ambulance to arrive could have had negative outcome for this patient in need,” stated the press release.

“Driving an emergency vehicle requires training and when driven improperly creates a dangerous situation for the unknowing citizens who share the roadway,” The Ogden Fire Department said in the press release. “Fortunately, the best possible outcome was realized.”