Ambulance stolen from Modesto’s Memorial Medical Center; woman arrested

A woman was arrested on suspicion of stealing an ambulance from Memorial Medical Center and leading officers on a brief pursuit.

Kristin Ireland, 48, had been in the emergency room at Memorial for several hours Monday morning when she began spitting on the floor, said Modesto police spokeswoman Heather Graves. Security guards escorted her out of the facility.

Graves said Ireland went to the emergency bay where an ambulance was parked, its door locked but the back open. Police believe Ireland got inside and drove away.

The AMR ambulance was equipped with GPS so officers quickly located it on Briggsmore Avenue at Sunrise Avenue.

An officer turned on his lights and sirens and followed the ambulance, which was traveling the speed limit and made a complete stop when it reached the red light at McHenry Avenue. It turned north on McHenry, at which point the officer rammed the right rear quarter panel, a maneuver designed to stall the vehicle, then block it from continuing.

Ireland was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, possession of stolen property and probation violation.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Ambulance stolen from Modesto’s Memorial Medical Center; woman arrested."