In April of 2022, a man stole an ambulance in Chicago and led police on a 70-mile chase, causing $8,000 in damage to the vehicle. Yet Chicago and Cook County prosecutors have declined to press charges in the case.
Only Grundy County, one of the counties that the ambulance passed through, has brought any charges in the case against 45-year-old Chicago attorney Benjamin Herrington.
NBC 5 investigated and found Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors passed on filing criminal charges because of mental health concerns about the man involved.
Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland filed charges against Herrington for possession of a stolen vehicle for the time when the ambulance passed through his county.
He notes that if someone stole an ambulance in Grundy County, and it was captured on video no less, charges would be brought.
And as for the claim that the man’s mental health was reason not to charge, he notes that 70% to 80% of criminal defendants in the county are dealing with mental health or drug issues.
