Florida man stole ambulance, led police on chase

A Florida man is in trouble after allegedly stealing an ambulance and leading police on a dangerous chase. Michael J. Esquilin is facing multiple charges, including DUI and grand theft, following his wild ride on Saturday. Police say Esquilin drove erratically, going through stop signs and nearly hitting other cars. The chase ended when officers found him at an intersection in Tampa, casually drinking a beer. He reportedly stole the ambulance after emergency workers refused to give him a ride home. Esquilin had been drinking for two days before the incident. Tampa Fire Rescue officials said he took the ambulance while paramedics were helping a patient. Thankfully, no one was hurt during the chase, which prompted the department to review its security measures to prevent such events in the future. During a court hearing on Monday, prosecutors pointed out Esquilin's troubling history of DUI offenses, stating he has four prior charges. His defense team argued that he could not afford bail, highlighting his unemployment and local ties. The judge then decided to put a GPS monitor on Esquilin and a device to track his alcohol use. He emphasized the need for safety, given Esquilin's past actions and current offenses. Esquilin is being held on a bond of $33,513, facing serious legal consequences for his alleged behavior.