FBI Joins Idaho Manhunt After Overnight Ambulance Theft, Crash

Late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, a popular intersection in Meridian looked like the scene of the popular video game 'Grand Theft Auto'--although this incident was very real, very dangerous, and not 'fun', at all.

While details at this time are limited, due to the ongoing nature of this current investigation, what the public has learned thus far, is shocking.

According to the Meridian Police Department, things began around 10:00 p.m. when a 911 call came in to dispatch--reporting that an ambulance had been stolen from the bay at a local hospital, St. Luke's West. The suspect that stole the ambulance then drove across the parking lot to retrieve gas cans which police believe were left there, staged, for retrieval.

Police say that the suspect then drove the ambulance directly into the North Portico building.

It appears that the suspect poured the accelerant around the ambulance once crashed inside of the building, but was unable to ignite a fire before fleeing due to police response.

At this time, the suspect in this incident is still on the run.

A manhunt is underway, with the assistance from the Idaho State Police, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and the Department of Homeland Security.

It is of note that this building, North Portico, has been in the news recently for leasing space to the Department of Homeland Security.

As the investigation is still ongoing, these are all of the details that have been released thus far. Police say that there are no indicators of any sort of ongoing threat to the public at this time.