Man on 'erratic' joy ride in Toronto with stolen ambulance

Police have taken a Toronto man into custody after he stole an empty ambulance in Cambridge zone and went on an “erratic” joy ride across the Greater Toronto Area or GTA.

Police said the 29-year-old suspect’s motivation to steal the ambulance was unclear. His name has not been disclosed by police.

According to Waterloo Police spokesperson Christopher Goss, at around midnight Saturday, a man in the Cambridge Memorial Hospital ambulance parking lot, near 700 Coronation Blvd, hopped into an empty ambulance and took off.

“A distracted paramedic, who was not in the ambulance, was in the area,” but did not notice the man, Goss told local media on Sunday.

The hospital immediately notified Waterloo police of the situation.

Later at night, “an officer driving in the area of Highway 401 towards Toronto located the suspect driving the ambulance erratically, with sirens on,” said Goss.

“The officer followed the ambulance, and when it got closer to the Halton region, he notified OPP (Ontario Provincial Police).”

The suspect travelled approximately 190 kilometres, through the GTA, before he was taken into custody by OPP at Wasaga Beach.

No injuries or collisions were reported during the pursuit. The investigation is taking place and it was not known whether the man has been charged.