Tennessee Police Officers Locate Stolen Ambulance with Help of Telematics Device

Police officers in a Middle Tennessee community were able to locate a stolen ambulance thanks to the help of a telematics device installed in the vehicle.

On September 30, the Mt. Juliet Police Department was notified by the neighboring Nashville Police Department that an ambulance had reportedly been stolen from a hospital.

According to a press release, officers were able to locate the ambulance using the vehicle's telematics device. A Metro Nashville Fire Department spokesperson told Government Fleet that all of its ambulances are equipped with Sierra Wireless Systems devices, allowing the department to track the vehicles at all times.

The devices are purchased and maintained through Nashville's Information Technology Services department.

Once officers tracked the suspect down, they deployed a spike system, deflating some tires. However, the pursuit continued until the driver stopped and ran away on foot. Officers quickly caught up and took the suspect into custody.

During the pursuit, authorities reported that 45-year-old Gary Mabry, Jr. intentionally hit two cars, leaving one person with minor injuries. A Mt. Juliet police officer involved in Mabry's apprehension injured his or her arm and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Mabry was charged with theft of an ambulance.

In a separate incident, an ambulance was responding to a medical call when someone allegedly drove off in it. That person collided with one of the department's fire engines, which was also on the same medical call.

The fire engine sustained only cosmetic damage and remains in-service. Both ambulances are being evaluated to determine whether repairs are needed before they can return to service.

Authorities did not release the name of the suspect in the second incident. It's unclear whether there is any connection between the two incidents.