A SUNY Geneseo student was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly stealing an ambulance that had responded to a campus emergency call and driving it through the Village of Geneseo while intoxicated.
According to Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Colin Dahlberg, 22, was taken into custody and charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree, a Class C felony, aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, and driving out of class. Additional charges are pending.
“University Police realized the ambulance was missing and issued a radio alert to locate it,” Osganian said. “When the suspect was arrested, his blood alcohol content was .20. The most fortunate outcome is that no one was killed, given how intoxicated he was.”
Police said the incident began at approximately 3:27 a.m., when a 911 call from campus reported a heavily intoxicated individual at Genesee Hall who may have required medical attention. While first responders from Geneseo Fire and Ambulance, along with University Police, were assisting the patient, Dahlberg allegedly entered the ambulance and drove it off campus and through the village.
Geneseo Police officers and Livingston County Sheriff’s deputies later located the ambulance parked near the Post Office on South Street. When officers approached, the driver reportedly fled on foot. Officer Raymond Goulet pursued and apprehended Dahlberg on Center Street near Main Street, with assistance from sheriff’s deputies.
A breath test administered after the arrest showed Dahlberg’s blood alcohol content at 0.20, more than twice the legal limit. Police also noted that Dahlberg is not licensed to operate an ambulance.
Osganian said further charges are being considered because the alleged theft prevented emergency personnel from transporting the original patient to the hospital.
The ambulance was returned to emergency medical personnel so they could complete the original call.
Dahlberg was arraigned in Geneseo Village Court before Justice Thomas Bushnell and remanded to the Livingston County Jail on $1,500 cash bail or a $3,000 bond.
