A Bryan Fire Department ambulance in service was stolen Sunday morning from an area hospital and later ditched in a neighboring county. The suspect in the theft has been arrested.

Lawrence Eugene Reyes Jr. of Richards was taken into custody at 8:20 a.m. Sunday, more than two-and-a-half hours after he allegedly took an ambulance from St. Joseph Regional Health Center. According to Bryan Police, Reyes was found along OSR and Highway 6 wet, dirty and scratched up.

In addition to a public intoxication charge, multiple charges of theft of a firearm and other charges, Reyes faces a first degree felony charge of theft of property of more than $200,000.

According to authorities, at 5:12 a.m. Sunday, the ambulance was in the middle of a stop at St. Joseph. Two medics were on that crew.

Both had delivered a patient to the emergency room, and as one stayed with the patient, Bryan Fire Chief Mike Donoho says the other crew member came out to begin clean-up in the patient portion of the vehicle. That's when Reyes allegedly got behind the wheel and drove off.

Authorities began pursuing the ambulance, though they kept their distance because, according to police, the circumstances did not meet the department's close pursuit policy.

Police followed it to Robertson County, where at Old Hearne Road at 5:40 a.m., Reyes allegedly ditched it and ran.

The ambulance, Medic 2, was not damaged and nothing was stolen.

An investigation is underway on the police end, and Donoho says one on his department's end will be conducted.

The current policy, according to the chief, is for all ambulances to be turned off when parked at the hospital, in part due to fumes from the vehicle that could make their way into the emergency room area. Donoho and the department will look into the handling of ambulance keys during stops and update the policy if necessary.