CRYSTAL CITY, Mo. — A stolen ambulance from Crystal City led to a police pursuit into St. Louis city where it crashed and a man was apprehended.
On Tuesday, 48-year-old Dwane Vardiman was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree tampering with a vehicle, armed criminal action and resisting arrest in connection with the crime.
Monday morning, an ambulance was reported stolen at around 9:30 from Crystal City in Jefferson County, Missouri. The person driving the ambulance drove at a high rate of speed north through Jefferson County, into St. Louis County.
The ambulance traveled through St. Louis County and into the City of St. Louis, still traveling at a high rate of speed.
According to a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department incident report, police were chasing the ambulance when it struck a car and came to a stop on the 4500 block of South Broadway Street. Police cars surrounded the ambulance and officers started to get out of their cars when the driver reversed into one of the police cars and drove away again.
St. Louis police said the Missouri Highway Patrol used spike strips to immobilize the ambulance, which came to a stop in the 7600 block of South Broadway Street. Officers said the suspect, a 48-year-old man, resisted arrest. Officers said they used a stun gun and were eventually able to take him into custody.
Police said Vardiman was taken to the hospital for an evaluation to determine if he was fit to be taken to jail. After the evaluation, he was taken into custody. According to online court documents, he is being held without bond.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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