Phillip Perez, 36, of Henderson, Texas, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for evading arrest following a high-speed chase in a stolen San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) ambulance.
Perez pleaded guilty to the charge of Evading Arrest/Detention in a Motor Vehicle, Kendall County Criminal District Attorney reports on Facebook.
On November 25, 2023, San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital. The vehicle, an ambulance valued at over $1 million, was taken while paramedics were dropping off a patient. Upon realizing the ambulance was missing, SAFD tracked the vehicle and provided location updates to SAPD, which led to a pursuit.
Perez, the driver of the stolen ambulance, refused to stop, leading officers to initiate a chase that spanned three counties. After deflating most of the ambulance’s tires using spike strips, Perez continued to evade law enforcement until he was eventually stopped in Kerr County. The pursuit lasted nearly 50 miles before Perez pulled over, exited the vehicle, and was arrested.
At the time of the crime, Perez was on parole after serving a 6-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Criminal District Attorney Alessandra Deike on behalf of the State of Texas.
