Police chase stolen ambulance from Cambridge hospital to Wasaga Beach

One man is in custody after multiple police forces were involved in a chase to stop a stolenambulancefrom Cambridge Memorial Hospital, which ended Sunday morning in WasagaBeach.

Waterloo Regional Police, York Regional Police and the Ontario Provincial Policewere involved in the chase.

Police received a call that an ambulance had been taken from Cambridge Memorial Hospital before midnight Saturday, Waterloo Police Supt. Christopher Goss said Sunday.

A man was in the area where the ambulances are parked at Cambridge Memorial Hospital when he entered the ambulance and drove away, Goss said.

'Paramedic was distracted'

"There was a paramedic nearby, however, the paramedic was distracted and the suspect entered an unoccupied ambulance," he said.

Gross said police located the ambulance shortly after on Hespeler Road in Cambridge, Ont., where it was traveling eastbound on Highway 401 towards Toronto. Police followed the ambulance for a short period of time but were unable to catch up and notified Ontario Provincial Police.

"Around Highway 25 and 401 our officers discontinued following the ambulance," he said. "At that point OPP took over."

York Regional Police also attempted to stop the ambulance. Their officersattempted to block the ambulance on Davis Drive in Newmarket at 1:50 a.m. but were unsuccessful, said Staff Sgt.KristaKempster.

Huronia OPP make arrest

The chase ended Sunday morning in the area of Wasaga Beach, whereHuronia West OPP received information that the stolen ambulance may be entering itsjurisdiction around 6:00 a.m., according to Sgt. Mark Kinney, with OPP Central Region.

Kinney said officers spotted the ambulance travelling northbound on County Road 10 and it turned eastbound on Highway 26.

Officers used a spike belt on Highway 26 near Rainbow Valley Road to get the ambulance to stop.

"It successfully, without injury, stopped the stolen vehicle," Kinney said.

Huronia OPP arrested and charged a man, 29,with numerous offences, including possession of stolen property, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police.