Homeless Woman Charged with Kidnapping After Hijacking Ambulance with Patient Inside: Police

The patient was eventually transferred to another ambulance

By
Homeless Ambulance_10312024_1
A woman was detained and taken for a psych evaluation after stealing an ambulance with a patient and EMT crew inside. YouTube

A woman staying at a homeless shelter in New Orleans has been charged with kidnapping, after allegedly getting behind the wheel of a stalled ambulance while an EMS crew were inside, tending to a patient.

Law enforcement responded to a medical call at Ozanam Inn, a homeless shelter, around 7 p.m. on Tuesday. While medics were treating a man inside an ambulance, Valerie Barron, who was staying at the shelter, allegedly jumped into the driver's seat and took off on a three-mile excursion that ended when another EMS crew stopped the vehicle and pulled out the driver, WDSU reported.

Police detained Barron and transported her to University Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation while the patient was transferred to another vehicle.

Before the incident, Renee Blanche, CEO of the shelter, told WDSU Barron had started showing signs of an "episode," including erratic behavior and claims that she was being tased.

Police sought an arrest warrant and will charge Barron with simple kidnapping and various traffic offenses when she is released from the medical center.

Originally published by Latin Times

Tags
New Orleans, Kidnapping

© 2025 Lawyer Herald All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Discussion
More News
Sonoma County Wildfires

Sniper Found Dead in Idaho Woods After Intentionally Setting Blaze to Lure Two Firefighters to Their Deaths

Huntington Park Raid

Security Cam Footage Shows Federal Agents Detonating Explosive to Forcibly Enter Home of Woman With Small Children

Amy Murray, Eugene Claypool.

Prison Nurse Allegedly Poisoned Husband With Antifreeze, Set Their House Ablaze in Plot to Marry Incarcerated Murderer Lover

Multiple 5th grade girls arrested for murder plot in Surprise

5th Grade Girls Plotted to Kill Classmate After Accusing Him of Cheating: Police