A chaotic true crime scene outside the Downey City Library turned even more bizarre on Saturday, September 13, 2025, when a 52-year-old man — not involved in the ongoing homicide being investigated — allegedly stole an ambulance while first responders were treating a stabbing victim. His pants ended up around his ankles when police finally took him into custody.
What led up to the ambulance theft
At about 9:30 a.m. Saturday, an argument in front of the Downey City Library escalated into violence. According to Downey Police, two men were arguing; one pulled out a knife and stabbed the other, striking the victim in the neck. Paramedics responded quickly, but the victim died at the scene.
While emergency personnel were occupied with tending to that victim and the subsequent homicide investigation, another man who had no connection to that incident approached a Downey Fire Department ambulance parked nearby. He reportedly got behind the wheel and drove off.
The chase and pantsless arrest
Law enforcement pursued the stolen ambulance in patrol cars and on foot, since the library shares parking lot access with City Hall and the Downey Police Department. The chase lasted about 10 miles, during which the ambulance allegedly hit several parked cars.
Eventually, the stolen ambulance crashed in a residential neighborhood in Alhambra when it struck a parked truck, reportedly flipping that vehicle onto its side. No serious injuries were reported.
When officers finally caught up with him, the suspect’s pants had fallen to his ankles, leaving him partially exposed as they placed him in handcuffs. Police quickly pulled his clothing back on before escorting him into custody. Authorities later confirmed the suspect was a 52-year-old Los Angeles resident and said he was taken into custody without further incident.
Importantly, the ambulance thief is not the same person accused of the stabbing outside the library. That suspect, described as a 23-year-old homeless man, fled the scene but was later apprehended at Downey High School. The two incidents are being treated separately by Downey investigators.
