Stolen ambulance suspect had crashed during earlier chase

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man suspected of stealing an ambulance at University Hospital on Thursday was being treated for injuries he suffered in a chase with law enforcement.

According to an MU Alert post, police were searching at about 4 p.m. for a man later identified as Sean M. Smith, 40, suspected of stealing an ambulance. Police described the man as a white man, 40 years old, wearing blue jeans, a black jacket and gray shoes and last seen in the Ashland Road area.

Police said in a subsequent post that the man might have a Band-Aid on his left ear. The ambulance was found near Ashland Road.

MUPD later identified the man as Sean M. Smith, 40. Police said Smith stole a St. James ambulance from University Hospital when he walked out of the MU Health Care facility. The department said he was later found at Midway Travel Plaza off Interstate 70.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a crash report that Smith, of Kansas City, was injured in a crash at Tipton. The crash happened as law enforcement officers were chasing Smith, according to a patrol spokesman.

Smith suffered minor injuries and was taken to University Hospital by ambulance before the alleged ambulance theft, according to the crash report.