Officials: Ala. Ambulance Stolen by Psychiatric Patient

Aug. 25--A psychiatric patient drove off in an ambulance from Decatur Morgan Hospital around 5 p.m. today and was later detained by police, authorities said.

Morgan County 911 was notified of the incident and dispatched Decatur police to investigate, Director Ryan Welty said.

Police detained the patient and recovered the ambulance on Alabama 67 between Decatur and Priceville, authorities said.

Welty said the ambulance was dropping off patients when the incident occurred at Somerville Road Southeast and Medical Drive, but no injuries had been reported.

A spokeswoman from the hospital wasn't immediately available for comment.

Decatur police spokesman Lt. Proncey Robertson said no details of the investigation were immediately available.

"It will be a couple hours before I can tell you any more than what we know now," Robertson said.

Police haven't said where the patient will be taken.

ashley.remkus@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2443. Twitter @aremkus1.

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