A Crowley man was arrested Wednesday after stealing an ambulance and leading officers on a pursuit which ended in Crowley.
At 1:35 PM, Duson Police were alerted by St Landry EMS that an ambulance had been stolen from Lafayette General Hospital and that the stolen ambulance was tracking west bound on I-10 coming into Duson, the ambulance was equipped with a GPS Tracker.
Duson Police intercepted the Ambulance traveling west bound on I-10 and attempted to stop it, but the driver allegedly refused to stop and a pursuit ensued for 10 miles to the East Crowley Exit.
Police say the ambulance then proceeded to LA Hwy 1111, into the City of Crowley and pulled into the parking lot of a Family Physicians Clinic. The driver of the ambulance then circled the driveway and struck a car occupied by an 88 year old Crowley man.
No injuries were reported in this crash.
The driver, identified as Kerry Cormier 36 years old of Crowley, allegedly jumped from the ambulance and ran into the clinic. Duson Police Officer assisted by LA State Troopers, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and Crowley Police all gave foot chase and Cormier was captured and taken into custody inside the physician’s office.
Cormier, when questioned about being in the St Landry EMS Ambulance, allegedly stated that just before noon on this date he was involved in a motor vehicle accident in the 3200 block of Ambassador Caffery Parkway in Lafayette, where he sustained and injury which caused pain in back and on his side.
Cormier then reported that he was transported by Acadian Ambulance Service to Lafayette General Hospital where he was placed in a lobby in pain. After waiting to be seen, Cormier stated he decided to go to a different hospital for quicker service and walked out of the Lafayette General ER and found an ambulance parked there.
Cormier took this ambulance and proceeded to UHC in Lafayette where he was not immediately seen there either. Cormier then took the ambulance to go to his primary care physician in Crowley and on his way he stated the police started chasing him.
Duson Police have confirmed that Cormier was involved in a crash on this date and was transported by Acadian Ambulance to Lafayette General, Duson Police also confirmed that St Landry EMS had transported a patient from Opelousas to Lafayette General Hospital, the medics had entered the E R to deliver their patient and upon exiting the ER noticed their ambulance was stolen. Management from St Landry EMS activated the GPS tracker and notified local police of the ambulance’s location.
After his arrest Cormier was transported to Acadia General Hospital in Crowley where doctors confirmed that Cormier had a rib fracture. Cormier was treated and released for incarceration.
Duson Police have booked Cormier with possession of stolen property felony into the Acadia Parish Jail. Lafayette Police are investigating the actual theft of the ambulance from Lafayette General Hospital and additional charges may be coming from that investigation.
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