In an earlier version of this story, a suspect was identified. The identification that was given to Texoma’s Homepage by WFPD was incorrect.
UPDATE: April 30, 2021 4:46 p.m. According to WFPD Sargent Charlie Eipper, the suspect has been correctly identified as Johnny Lee Kelsey, 47, of Georgia.
Kelsey is currently being held at Wilbarger County Jail.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — One man is behind bars in Vernon after he took an ambulance for a ride from Wichita Falls to Wilbarger County.
According to officials with WFPD, the suspect* was arrested in Wilbarger County around 8:50 p.m. Thursday, April 29, 2021.
Transtar Ambulance Company reported that one of their ambulances had been stolen sometime between 7:30 p.m. and 7:32 p.m. Thursday from their property at 4312 Call Field.
A short time later at 7:49 p.m. officers with Wichita Falls Police Department responded to a hit and run accident in the 2200 block of Burkburnett Rd. involving the ambulance.
The stolen ambulance struck a 2012 Nissan Cube. There were no injuries reported in this accident.
DPS arrested the suspect and recovered the ambulance at 8:50 pm in Wilbarger County. Persinger was then transported to Wilbarger County Jail.
According to WFPD Sargent Charlie Eipper, the suspect will be charged in Wichita Falls with theft from $150,000 to $300,000 and an accident involving damage to vehicles over $200. The ambulance is valued at $250,000.