A Florida man took law enforcement on a high-speed chase after allegedly stealing an ambulance… and he made sure to finish his beer before being taken into custody.
Dashcam footage captured the chaotic scene as Michael J. Esquilin, 43, sped through Tampa streets in a stolen Tampa Fire Rescue ambulance on Saturday night (8:40 PM).
The Florida Highway Patrol says the emergency vehicle blew past stop signs, swerved through traffic, drove on the wrong side of the road, and nearly collided with other motorists before Esquilin finally pulled over.
In a moment that left even seasoned officers stunned, Esquilin took a final sip from a beer can before being yanked from the driver’s seat and arrested.
Authorities say the incident began when an alert was issued about a stolen ambulance from HCA South Tampa Hospital. Within minutes, troopers located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but Esquilin refused to pull over, triggering a dangerous pursuit.
Once in custody, Esquilin allegedly admitted to drinking for two straight days and said he took the ambulance because first responders refused to give him a ride home. He now faces a laundry list of charges.
