Firefighter leaps into moving ambulance to keep someone from driving off with it

WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - An Ohio firefighter leaped through his ambulance’s window Sunday morning to prevent an alleged thief from taking it.

According to Willoughby Hills Fire Department, around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, a Willoughby Hills Fire Rescue ambulance was taken from the University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center.

The ambulance crew was leaving the hospital when they found a man getting into the ambulance, officials said. The suspect then started to drive away in the ambulance.

Career firefighter and paramedic Brian Paladino jumped through the open driver’s side window of the ambulance and subdued the suspect.

“I was just like, this guy is trying to steal a very expensive piece of equipment,” Paladino said.

During the exchange, the ambulance jumped the curb and crashed into the helicopter landing pad at the hospital.

Hospital staff and the rest of the ambulance crew were able to hold the suspect until police came.

“No day is ever the same,” Paladino said. “You have no idea what’s going to happen.”

Paladino had minor ankle and arm injuries, and the suspect was not injured.

“Anytime, someone makes the extremely poor decision to steal a public safety vehicle is putting themselves and everyone around them at risk,” said Chief Robert J. Gandee. “Thankfully, the quick heroic actions of Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Paladino averted a potentially more disastrous scenario.”

Willoughby Hills Fire Rescue will be evaluating their security protocols, officials said.

“This opportunity doesn’t have to happen again,” Gandee said. “We don’t have to have our firefighters risk their lives to try to make an impact to stop a chain of events of a potential catastrophic situation.”

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