By: Richard L. Smith
Newark authorities are investigating a brazen early-morning carjacking involving an ambulance parked outside St. Michael’s Medical Center in the city’s Central Ward.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, the incident unfolded at approximately 2:41 a.m. Thursday, February 12, at the hospital located at 111 Central Avenue.
Police were dispatched to the scene on reports of a carjacked ambulance.
When officers arrived, they found two ambulance workers who told authorities they had been seated inside the parked vehicle when a male suspect approached.
The suspect allegedly forcibly removed the driver from the ambulance and ordered the passenger to exit before taking control of the emergency vehicle.
The stolen ambulance was later recovered a short distance away in the 200 block of Central Avenue, near 250 Central Avenue.
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident. However, a cell phone was discovered missing from the vehicle after it was recovered.
Police from the New Jersey Institute of Technology Police Department located a male matching the suspect’s description and detained him for questioning. Authorities have not yet announced any formal charges.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. No additional information has been released at this time.