TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man accused of stealing an ambulance on Saturday “finished drinking a beer in full view of Troopers” before he was arrested, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Michael J. Esquilin, 43, faces charges of fleeing to elude at high speed, DUI 4th or subsequent violation, driving while license revoked (habitual), grand theft of emergency medical equipment, burglary of an authorized emergency vehicle and resisting an officer without violence, records show.
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Troopers responded around 8:30 p.m. to a report of a Tampa Fire Rescue ambulance stolen from HCA South Tampa Hospital, locating it within 10 minutes in the area of South Esperanza Avenue and W. Bay to Bay Boulevard, according to FHP.
After an attempted traffic stop, the ambulance took off without its emergency equipment activated, troopers said in a statement.
Fleeing for several miles through stop signs and at times on the wrong side of the road, the ambulance came close to hitting other motorists as it was pursued by troopers and Tampa police, according to the statement.
The driver, Esquilin, brought the ambulance to a stop at the intersection of S. Hubert Avenue and W. Empedrado Street, where he then “finished drinking a beer in full view of Troopers,” the statement reads.
Esquilin held onto the steering wheel as troopers and police attempted to take him into custody, FHP said.
Once secured, he allegedly said that he had been drinking for the last two days and stole the ambulance after emergency personnel denied him a ride home, according to the statement.