NEW ALBANY —
A 34-year-old New Albany man was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly stealing an ambulance at Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services.
Shortly before 1 a.m., EMTs left an ambulance running as they dropped off a patient at the hospital. Jeremy Wooten allegedly climbed into the ambulance and drove about two blocks before stopping and fleeing on foot.
According to a New Albany Police Department report, officers observed Wooten running northbound on Bono Road and onto Country Club Drive. Police caught up to him and ordered him to the ground at gunpoint.
Steven King, 24, of Lexington, Ind., said he was at the hospital visiting his uncle and went outside to smoke. He was standing in front of the building near State Street when he saw security guards escorting Wooten out of the hospital.
“He just started walking around the building,” King said. “He was pretty drunk. He was staggering and tripping over himself.”
King said the ambulance had just pulled up at the hospital, and moments later, Wooten walked to the ambulance bay and climbed into the emergency vehicle and started to drive. King ran inside the hospital front door to notify security.
“When I came back out, he was coming around the building toward us,” King said.
Wooten was charged on Monday with class D felony theft in Floyd County Superior Court No. 1. Wooten has a history of public intoxication and theft charges in Floyd County.
New Albany Emergency Medical Services Director Tom Williams said steps will be taken to try to prevent this from happening again. He said they keep the ambulance running so it stays heated during the winter and air conditioned during the summer.
“That way we don’t have a period where it’s too warm or too cool for the patients,” Williams said.
The city only has one ambulance now due to budget cuts, and the situation could have been worse.
“We were fortunate there wasn’t another run while this was occuring,” he said.
This is the second time in less than a month that an ambulance has been stolen in New Albany. Larry Loughman, 43, of Jeffersonville, was arrested after a high-speed pursuit in a stolen Orange County ambulance. The EMTs had stopped to eat at the Kentucky Fried Chicken along State Street, and Loughman allegedly took off with the vehicle.
He was eventually stopped and arrested on Interstate 65 near the 56 mile marker. An Indiana State Police vehicle was damaged, and police fired shots and used stop sticks to try to slow down the vehicle, which crossed the median at one point.
Recent Local News
Another ambulance stolen in New Albany
Suspect arrested, EMS planning policy changes
- Recent Local News
-
-
SWEET TREAT: Volunteers see the attraction of annual Starlight Strawberry Festival
-
Board chair: Parks district best solution for New Albany and Floyd County
Mayor Jeff Gahan’s veto of a new parks deal between the city and county was upheld earlier this month by the New Albany City Council. While the Floyd County Council agreed to still pay an additional $100,000 toward the parks department for the remainder of the year, the city and county remain under a prior agreement that led to funding discrepancies in the past.
-
THE 'V' WORD: SUB: Prosser Career Education Center moves away from stigma of ‘vocational’ school
- TARC sets Memorial Day and Kennedy Bridge route changes
- Indiana man releases hostages, fatally shoots self
-
Vietnam veteran receives medals 46 years after active duty ends
- More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend
-
Pence talks bridges, jobs during Southern Indiana swing
“I think everyone senses with the recent bridges agreement, the potential for extraordinary growth,” said Mike Pence, a U.S. House member who is seeking to replace Gov. Mitch Daniels and retain the gubernatorial seat for the Republican Party.
- Police: Gunman has hostages in Indiana realty office
-
Delaware woman dies in I-65 crash
-
Collingsworth Family to perform at Silver Heights Retreat Center in New Albany
The Collingsworth Family will be making a return trip to the Silver Heights Retreat and Camp Center in New Albany on Thursday, June 7.
-
Clark County approves self-insurance plan
Clark County Insurance Agent-of-Record Diane Swank presented health insurance renewal options at the council meeting Monday, but the county’s fiscal body decided to recess its meeting in order to review a proposal to move the county to a self-insured plan.
-
New theater directors at NAHS and FCHS ready for their programs
As the curtain falls on the careers of the teachers who put the theater programs of Floyd Central and New Albany high schools on the map, the new blood coming in have big hopes for the programs they’re taking over.
-
Jeff to start enforcing insurance ordinances
A 2004 ordinance that dictates how much city retirees pay for health insurance – ignored for years by Jeffersonville officials – looks like it will now be enforced.
-
Top Gun showing Saturday at the New Albany riverfront
In honor of Memorial Day, the city of New Albany will show the movie “Top Gun” on its new 40-foot screen at the Riverfront Amphitheater Saturday.
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
