Ms. Barrineau came to the hospital earlier that day for a mental health evaluation, but she called 911 after she claimed a nurse was making rude comments about her. She asked the responding police officer for a ride to Walmart but did not get in the vehicle. Instead, she stared off at an ambulance by the hospital and said she would go back inside. The officer left to respond to a different call, and an hour later, the hospital called the police to report a stolen ambulance.
Bainbridge Public Safety tracked down the ambulance but could not get it to stop, as it sped up to 80 mph. When it crossed into Attapulgus, Ga., a Decatur County Sheriff’s Office deputy caught up and switched his radio to the EMS frequency in order to speak with the driver, Ms. Barrineau.
The deputy talked Ms. Barrineau into stopping the vehicle and exiting. She has been charged with theft by taking and fleeing a police officer.
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