Police say Paul Chandler, 51, entered the unattended ambulance on Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. A paramedic and nurse tried to stop him, but feared they would be struck, officials said. People reported seeing the ambulance in east Rockford and on the Tollway Wednesday afternoon.
The abandoned ambulance was recovered later that night in McHenry County. Chandler was arrested without incident in Belvidere. He is charged with aggravated assault and theft of motor vehicle.
