Chicago Man Charged In Connection With Stolen Ambulance, Evading Cops

CHICAGO — A 46-year-old Chicago man faces charges after police said he stole a Chicago Fire Department ambulance and led authorities on a 75-mile chase down I-55 before he was eventually apprehended Monday evening.

Benjamin Herrington has been charged with fleeing to elude a peace officer, resisting a peace officer and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Illinois State Police said. Herrington was taken into custody in Livingston County near Dwight, was treated at a local hospital and is awaiting transfer back to Cook County, officials said.

Herrington is being held at the Grundy County Jail, where he was taken after he was released from a local hospital.

Chicago fire officials thanked the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts in recovering the ambulance.

"These officers were able to secure the ambulance and get the young man the help he needs without serious injury to himself or members of the public," Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Herrington led police on the chase for nearly two hours Monday after surveillance footage caught him stealing the parked ambulance in Chinatown, officials said. Herrington then led police down I-55, where the ambulance blew a rear tire, which forced Herrington to eventually pull to the side of the expressway 75 miles after the chase started, police said.

In the footage, Herrington exited the ambulance and appeared to be surrendering to police before he stood up and started to run. Television coverage of the chase captured Herrington attempting to flag down a vehicle traveling north on I-55 before he was eventually caught and tackled by officers and taken into custody.

WGN reported Tuesday that Herrington was once a prominent attorney who practiced for several years in the Chicago area after getting his law degree in 2003. His mother told WGN that Herrington lost his job in December and became homeless while suffering from mental illness and drug addiction for the last few years.