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BSO: Man Steals Ambulance, Tells Detectives 'He Needed A Car'

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Broward Sheriff's Office have arrested a man they say stole a BSO Fire Rescue ambulance on Sunday afternoon.

BSO said they responded to a stolen vehicle call in progress in the area of North Broward Medical Center, in the 200 block of East Sample Road, in Deerfield Beach, at around 6:30 p.m.

The ambulance was eventually located in the 5700 block of North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, according to authorities.

"There was a GPS on the ambulance, and deputies were quickly able to enable the GPS and track down the suspect who they took into custody within 30 minutes of the theft," said BSO Spokesperson Joy Oglesby.

BSO said a traffic stop was conducted and the suspect, who was identified as Michael Paul, 25, was taken into custody without incident.

They say Paul stole the truck as firefighters were wheeling an emergency patient into Broward Health North.

Paul told detectives that he had just been released from the hospital and he "needed a car" to get home.

BSO said rescue workers routinely leave their engines running, in order to keep them cool for the next patient who could require it at any moment.

"They need the AC going, they need the emergency lights on, so this situation is no fault of their own," Oglesby said of the fire rescue team.

Rescue 102 out of Deerfield Beach was quickly put back in service. Thankfully, it was not needed for an emergency run while Paul was allegedly in it, on the run.

Paul, who court papers say is unemployed, was ordered held on $1000 bond Monday. He was still at Broward's Main Jail Monday evening.

In addition to grand theft auto - or ambulance, Paul was charged with driving without a license.

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