Penticton man steals ambulance, hides in bushes, gets arrested

Penticton RCMP have arrested a man who stole an ambulance earlier today, Jan. 17.

According to a Penticton RCMP media release, the man got into the parked ambulance at Penticton Regional Hospital and drove it away. Police found the ambulance a few blocks away.

"Multiple officers quickly responded to the area," Penticton RCMP spokesperson Const. Dayne Lyons said in the release. "Police Dog Services, Forensic Identification Services, Indigenous Policing Services and Patrol officers all hit the road to conduct patrols, conduct a dog track, lock down a scene and a perimeter and analyze the recovered ambulance."

Roughly 45 minutes after the ambulance was stolen Penticton RCMP got a report from a member of the public about a suspicious man hiding in the bushes near their home.

Police responded and arrested the man.

"Our officers worked extremely quickly to track down the ambulance and the suspect," Const. Lyons said.

The male was held in custody and charges are being forwarded to the B.C. Prosecution Service for consideration.

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