Joni SweetPHOENIX (AP/CBS5) -
Phoenix police say a woman who allegedly stole an ambulance and led officers on chase through the West Valley has been taken into custody.
Police spokesman, Officer James Holmes, said 26-year-old Joni Marie Sweet stole a Southwest Ambulance company vehicle that had been parked, with the engine running in front of Phoenix Baptist Hospital on Friday just before 5 p.m. Holmes said the ambulance attendants had entered the hospital to retrieve a patient and left the vehicle running to keep the air conditioning on.
Holmes said Sweet led officers and the police department's helicopter from west Phoenix into the city of Glendale, and back to Phoenix before Sweet was blocked in by patrol cars at 27th Avenue and Beardsley Road.
During the chase, Southwest Ambulance dispatch made radio contact with the driver, who said she was not stopping.
Holmes said the only damage was to the ambulance amounting to $3,000.
Court documents stated three prescription bottles with the name of Sweet's mother were found.
Sweet is facing charges for the motor vehicle theft, criminal damage and a prescription drug violation, said Holmes.
Copyright 2012 CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
