A 48-year-old O’Fallon man is facing several felony charges for allegedly stealing an ambulance from outside Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City and leading police on a chase that ended in south St. Louis, St. Louis Metropolitan Police reported today, Oct. 4.
Dwane Vardiman has been charged with first-degree tampering with a vehicle, first-degree assault, armed criminal action and felony resisting arrest, according to St. Louis Police.
A spokeswoman referred further questions about the case to the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office, which as of this afternoon had not responded to a request for comment.
Vardiman allegedly stole a Valle Ambulance District ambulance from outside the Crystal City hospital on Monday, Oct. 3, and then led multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase through Jefferson and St. Louis counties and south St. Louis, authorities reported.
Crystal City Capt. Mike Pruneau said Vardiman had been admitted into the hospital Sunday evening, Oct. 2, because of a medical emergency and then was released early Monday morning. A hospital staff member told police Vardiman tried to arrange a ride home from the hospital and couldn’t, so he became frustrated.
At about 8:45 a.m., Valle Ambulance District staff personnel transported a patient to the hospital and left the ambulance idling outside the building while admitting the patient, and Vardiman allegedly got into the ambulance and drove away, Pruneau said.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies chased the ambulance on northbound I-55 until it entered St. Louis County. Other agencies continued the chase through St. Louis County and into St. Louis, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Grant Bissell said.
A St. Louis Police spokeswoman said an officer saw the ambulance at about 9:30 a.m. near the intersection of Jefferson and Chouteau avenues after it was reported stolen by Crystal City Police. The St. Louis Police officers turned on their emergency lights and sirens to stop the fleeing vehicle. However, Vardiman allegedly did not stop the ambulance for the officers, and appeared to intentionally strike a St. Louis Police vehicle, the report said.
The ambulance then hit a civilian’s vehicle in the 4500 block of South Broadway Street, and several officers exited their vehicles and tried to apprehend the driver. However, Vardiman put the ambulance into reverse and struck another police vehicle before fleeing the area, according to the report.
St. Louis Police ended their pursuit after the accident on South Broadway Street, but the Missouri State Highway Patrol used spike strips and the ambulance was disabled at about 10 a.m. in the 7600 block of South Broadway Street near East Schirmer Street, the report said.
Vardiman tried to run from the ambulance, but St. Louis Police officers used a stun gun to subdue him and then took him into custody, according to the report.
The man was taken to an area hospital for evaluation following the arrest, St. Louis Police reported.
Pruneau said Crystal City Police will seek a stealing charge against the man through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Pruneau said the ambulance has been returned to the Valle Ambulance District.
Valle Ambulance Chief Jesse Barton said today he could not comment on the condition of the ambulance because it is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.