Ambulance STOLEN With Patient Strapped Inside

Ambulance driving on urban street with lights flashing.

A Wisconsin ambulance theft with a patient strapped to a gurney shows how quickly public safety can unravel when basic law and order breaks down.

Story Snapshot

A 37-year-old suspect, Benjamin L. Feltz of Nekoosa, allegedly stole a Wisconsin Rapids ambulance while a patient was secured inside.
Police say the theft triggered a roughly 40-minute pursuit spanning about 18 miles across multiple jurisdictions.
Officers used tire deflation devices and a drone to monitor and safely end the incident.
Authorities reported the patient, paramedics, and suspect were ultimately evaluated at a hospital and were uninjured.

How an EMS call turned into an ambulance chase

Wisconsin Rapids responders were handling a medical service call on the evening of Feb. 17, 2026, when police say the situation took a bizarre and dangerous turn. Reports describe two paramedics providing care with a patient secured in the rear compartment as a man got into the driver’s seat and took off. One paramedic attempted to intervene, but both were forced out once the scene became unsafe.

Police accounts indicate the ambulance was taken from the area of a residence in the 1400 block of 22nd Avenue South in Wisconsin Rapids. The immediate problem wasn’t just a vehicle theft—it was a theft of an emergency vehicle with a vulnerable patient inside. Even when a transport is not classified as an emergency run, any unexpected movement, hard braking, or crash risk can put a strapped-in patient in serious danger.

Multi-agency response and the tools used to stop it

Wisconsin Rapids police initiated pursuit after the ambulance was driven away, and multiple agencies joined as the chase moved through Wood County. Officials said tire deflation devices were deployed more than once, initially without success. Pittsville Police eventually disabled a front tire, and the ambulance then ended up in a muddy field where it became stuck, allowing officers to move in under more controlled conditions.

Law enforcement also used an unmanned aerial vehicle—commonly described as a drone—to maintain visual awareness of the scene before making the arrest. From a public-safety perspective, that matters: a drone can reduce the need for officers to rush in blindly, particularly when the suspect is unpredictable and a patient’s welfare is in the balance. Police statements credited coordination among departments for bringing the incident to a close without reported injury.

What police say happened after the stop

After the ambulance became immobilized, a coordinated team took Feltz into custody without incident, according to reporting that cited official statements. Several outlets reported the suspect was naked when arrested, a detail that underscores how erratic the situation had become. Authorities also reported the ambulance sustained minor damage and had to be towed. Even “minor” damage to an EMS vehicle can reduce availability for the next call.

Officials said both the patient and the suspect were transported to Aspirus Wisconsin Rapids Hospital for evaluation and treatment and were reported uninjured. The patient’s identity and medical condition were not disclosed in the available reporting, and there was limited information on why the patient needed transport. That lack of detail is common in EMS-related stories because privacy rules restrict what agencies can release, even when public concern is high.

Charges and unanswered questions for the court process

As of Feb. 19, 2026 reporting, Feltz was booked at the Wood County Jail while formal charging decisions were still pending. Recommended charges cited in coverage included operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, obstructing emergency personnel, recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct, and lewd and lascivious behavior. Police also referenced operating while intoxicated as a third offense and alleged threats toward law enforcement.

The reporting also indicated Feltz was already wanted by authorities and had been evading law enforcement before the ambulance theft. Beyond that, the public record in the cited coverage offered little background on the suspect or motives, and no expert commentary was included. What is clear is the real-world cost: emergency crews were put in jeopardy, officers and equipment were tied up for roughly 40 minutes, and a patient’s care was disrupted by a criminal act.

For communities watching crime and disorder stories pile up year after year, this incident is a reminder that “soft” vulnerability points—like an ambulance left accessible while medics work—can become a high-stakes threat in seconds. The next steps will play out in Wisconsin’s courts, where prosecutors will have to prove each element of the alleged offenses. The public, meanwhile, will rightly expect accountability when a patient’s safety is treated as collateral damage.