Vancouver General Hospital had an eventful afternoon on Wednesday as police were called in to deal with a disruptive patient who caused damage inside an ambulance.
According to authorities, the incident took place at approximately 4 p.m. The man in question reportedly tried to break the ambulance’s windows and even removed needles from a sharps container.
Upon arrival, police found the suspect seated in the driver’s seat of the ambulance, seemingly attempting to start the vehicle. To prevent any further actions, law enforcement used a police car to block the ambulance and successfully apprehended the suspect.
In response to the individual’s aggressive behavior and non-compliance, officers resorted to firing a bean-bag shotgun during the arrest.
Despite the alarming situation, no charges have been filed against the suspect, who is currently under further medical supervision.
Emergency Health Services in British Columbia confirmed that the paramedics who were present during the incident managed to exit the ambulance unharmed.
Brian Twaites, the Paramedic Public Information Officer, stated that the affected ambulance has been temporarily taken out of service for cleaning and repairs, with a replacement vehicle from the BCEHS fleet now in use.
WorkSafeBC has been informed of the episode and is set to investigate to identify any measures that could prevent similar occurrences in the future.