NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — A Decatur woman was in the Benton County Jail on Jan. 5 after stealing an ambulance, according to officials with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Dedra Lynn Noah, 27, of 17269 Little John Road, was arrested last Wednesday in connection with felony fleeing by vehicle with extreme indifference andtheft by receiving, and misdemeanor driving left of center, reckless driving and speeding.

“I don’t recall us ever having an ambulance stolen before,” said Capt. Mike Jones of the patrol division of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. “I know it’s happened across the United States, but not here.”

At about 4 a.m. Wednesday,police said, a Pulse Emergency Medical ambulance was stolen from the Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital.

A Sheriff’s Office deputy found the ambulance about 4:13 a.m. stopped at the intersection of Arkansas 12 and Pioneer Lane in Gentry, according to authorities.

As the deputy pulledup to the ambulance and turned on emergency lights, the ambulance took off, heading east on Arkansas 12, deputies said.

Noah parked the ambulance next to a barn near the intersection of Young and Garman roads after the six-mile pursuit, officials said.

Noah was taken into custody. The ambulance received minor damage, according to police.

“She said she wanted a ride home and this was herride home,” Jones said. “She just didn’t quite make it.”

Noah was taken to the Siloam Springs hospital earlier for abdominal and leg pain from a prior broken leg, according to a report.

Authorities were told Noah became upset and had to be removed from the emergency room by Siloam Springs police.

The ambulance personnel apparently pulled into the emergency room drive, leaving the vehicle running and unlocked. That’s whenNoah stole the ambulance, authorities said.

A representative of the ambulance service said Wednesday afternoon it had never had an ambulance stolen before, nor heard of an ambulance being stolen.

Pulse Emergency Medical Services is a private company in Siloam Springs, according to officials.

Noah was being held last Wednesday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

News, Pages 1 on 01/12/2011