Video: Mich. Police Chase of Stolen Ambulance Ends in Fiery Crash
What to know
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A 33-year-old Novi man allegedly stole a Medstar ambulance after a rollover crash and fled police for two miles before crashing into another vehicle.
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The ambulance caught fire in the crash, and the suspect, paramedic, patient and another driver suffered injuries that weren't life-threatening.
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The suspect was arrested after attempting to grab officers’ firearms and is facing multiple felony charges, including carjacking and fleeing and eluding.
Source The Oakland Press, Sterling Heights, Mich.
A Novi man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly carjacked an ambulance, ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, fled on foot and resisted police.
Changlin Li, 33, is held in the Oakland County Jail on a $5 million bond.
Li was involved in a rollover crash with another vehicle at 10 Mile and Novi roads at about 3:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. A paramedic and patient were in the rear of a Medstar ambulance when Li entered it and drove south on Novi Road with emergency lights flashing, said Commander Bob Manar of the Novi Police Department.
Officers pursued the ambulance as it traveled two miles on Novi Road to Eight Mile Road, where it headed west.
The ambulance ran a red light at Beck Road and crashed into a vehicle traveling south on Beck.
The ambulance caught fire; Li attempted to flee on foot, but officers immediately apprehended him.
Li, the paramedic and patient in the ambulance and the driver of the second vehicle in the Eight Mile-Beck crash were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.
Manar said Li attempted to grab firearms from an officer at the scene of the second crash and at the hospital.
He had a knife in his possession at the time of his arrest, Manar said.
He is charged with second-degree fleeing and eluding, two counts of resisting/obstructing a police officer, two counts of peace officer-disarming firearm, carrying a concealed weapon and carjacking. All are felonies.
Manar said police do not know what prompted Manar to allegedly steal the ambulance and flee.
There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved, he said.
Manar did not know whether Li has a criminal background or a history of mental illness.
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