Tulare County DA Charges Man After Stolen Ambulance Pursuit Ends in Crash

A 28-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after authorities say he stole an ambulance from a hospital and led law enforcement on a pursuit that ended with a crash in Kern County, officials said.

District Attorney Tim Ward announced criminal charges against Joe Prieto, 28, following the June 17 incident.

Authorities allege Prieto, who had been transported by ambulance to a Tulare hospital, stole a different ambulance from the facility, forcing an EMT to jump from the moving vehicle. During the incident, he nearly collided with another ambulance and an EMT who attempted to intervene, according to officials.

Prieto then fled in the ambulance, leading law enforcement on a pursuit southbound on Highway 99 before crashing in Kern County. He was taken into custody following the crash.

He is charged with carjacking, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing a pursuing peace officer, taking a vehicle without consent, and receiving stolen property.

At his arraignment Monday afternoon, Prieto entered a not guilty plea and is being held in custody without bail.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing conference on Monday, June 29, in Superior Court.

If convicted, he faces up to 11 years and four months in prison.

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