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Police in Philadelphia arrest man who stole ambulance and tried to run over officer who shot him

Police eventually halted the ambulance after a low-speed pursuit through the city - AP
Police eventually halted the ambulance after a low-speed pursuit through the city - AP

A man who stole an ambulance and tried to run over an officer who shot him three times before leading police on a chase through the streets of Philadelphia has been arrested wearing only a pair of shorts.

Police said they were called to a motel in northeast Philadelphia around 9.20pm (2.20pm GMT) after reports of a domestic disturbance involving a man and a woman that necessitated medical attention for one or more parties.

The man became combative and jumped into the ambulance, driving at one of the officers whom medics had called for backup, Staff Inspector Sekou Kinebrew of Philadelphia police said.

The officer fired his weapon four times, striking the man three times: twice in the left leg and once in the side. The officer was struck by the ambulance and was hospitalised with injuries that Mr  Kinebrew described as non-life-threatening.

During the ensuing low-speed police pursuit that ended around 10.40pm, the ambulance traveled at speeds of between 10 and 25 mph.

The man was only wearing shorts when the ambulance was stopped and he was arrested - AP
The man was only wearing shorts when the ambulance was stopped and he was arrested - AP

The distance between the locations and the beginning and end of the chase is less than 2.5 miles, but Mr Kinebrew said the driver made several stops before he was eventually taken into custody without incident.

At one point in the chase, aerial video showed the man stop in a parking lot of a fast-food restaurant and opening the door as officers approached. He then drives off and barrels into several police vehicles blocking the exit.

The ambulance, marked as belonging to the Philadelphia Fire Department, comes to a halt for about 10 seconds as officers again approach, before the driver rams his way back on the street.

Two marked police vehicles were struck, Mr Kinebrew said, but no officers were believed to have been seriously injured in connection with that collision.

Police are also investigating whether the driver contributed to an accident involving civilians. Mr Kinebrew said a tow truck that local news outlets said had tried to intervene during the pursuit may have also been struck.

The suspect appeared to be wearing only a pair of shorts when he was taken into custody, video showed. The man, who was taken to a hospital, is in his 40s, Mr Kinebrew said.