HESPERIA: Ambulance Pursuit Termination

A mentally unstable patient assaulted an ambulance paramedic crew and then stole their ambulance Sunday night in Temecula. The incident began around 4:00 PM when paramedics from Temecula Valley Hospital were attempting a transport a patient. The suspect headed northbound on the I-15 eventually heading up into the high desert. San Bernadino County Sheriff deputies successfully deployed a spike strip near the Main Street exit of the I-15. The suspect exited the ambulance a short time later after it crashed onto the shoulder of the freeway. The suspect fled on foot into a nearby desert field. CHP officers, SBSO deputies and the crew of the SBSO Helicopter 40King tracked the suspect and took him into custody a short time later.