Prosecutors say the man admitted to taking the ambulance Wednesday. Police say it sparked a 30-minute chase.
HOUSTON — A man said he took an ambulance “for attention.” Police say he led them on a 30-minute chase through Houston streets.
The ambulance was stolen from Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.
Terrell Scherer, 63, was taken into custody following the incident. He appeared in probable cause court Thursday, saying he did it for attention. Prosecutors say he admitted to taking the ambulance. He is homeless and has been getting medical treatment for epilepsy and a traumatic brain injury.
Scherer was charged with theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. The judge set his bond at $30,000.
What happened
According to HPD Lt. Larry Crowson, at around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Houston Fire Department told dispatchers that the ambulance had been taken. The ambulance had a GPS tracker, which allowed officers to locate the stolen vehicle in real time.
When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver refused. That led to the chase with a police helicopter and undercover units. The chase lasted about 30 minutes and ended after the driver lost control. A K-9 officer bit the suspect, which allowed officers to pull him from the ambulance.
Scherer was taken back to Ben Taub Hospital for treatment after the K-9 bite.