Patient Steals Ambulance, Prompts School Lockdown

Waterloo Police have arrested a man who stole an ambulance this morning, and prompted a school lock down.

The incident began around 7:30 this (Tuesday) morning, when a mental health patient at Covenant Hospital, reportedly escaped from the psychiatric ward. The man, whose name was not released, drove off in an ambulance, through a closed bay door at the hospital, causing some significant damage.

The man abandoned the ambulance on Lindner Drive, and fled into the neighborhood, prompting a lock down of nearby Waterloo Columbus School.

Just before 9am, the man was found about a block from the ambulance, apparently looking for another unlocked vehicle. He was taken into custody without further incident.

The lock down at Waterloo Columbus School has now been lifted.