Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Naked man hijacks ambulance

Police said a disturbance call took a bizarre twist after a naked man hijacked an ambulance, wrecked it and then ran from officers. Albuquerque police were called to Candelaria Road on Friday at around 1:30a.m. Officers said when they arrived they found Christopher Halverson, 27, stark naked roaming around the neighbourhood. Police reported that Christopher Halverson was having a drug induced psychotic episode and his father agreed.

“I see my son and he's doesn't have no clothes on or anything and I said Chris what's happened to you,” Halverson said. “He didn't even act like he knew me or my wife.” Halverson said it was hard watching officers use a taser and a bean bag gun to control his son but he knew he needed help. Officers finally gained control of Halverson. However, both Albuquerque police and Albuquerque fire crews still recommended that Albuquerque Ambulance Service staff restrain the patient before taking him to the hospital.


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“His behaviour was unpredictable,” Officer Robert Gibbs said. Albuquerque Ambulance spokesperson Pam Bengel said the crew decided not to. “At the time of transport he was cooperative so the restraints were not used,” Bengel said. “We would rather not restrain people if they're being calm and cooperative.”

Bengel said a few blocks away Halverson overpowered the paramedic riding in the back with him, then crawled through a tiny window leading to the cab and kicked the driver out. A short time later Halverson wrecked the ambulance and ran off. “He was naked essentially and was running around in the area and took us a couple of hours to locate him,” Gibbs said. The paramedic and EMT are okay. Halverson was taken to the hospital.

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