Man Accused of Stealing Bloomington Ambulance Shortly After Getting Out of Jail

A Bloomington man is facing new charges after police say he stole an ambulance not long after being released from jail. 25newsnow reported that Dennis Montgomery (34) had just been released from prison for a prior burglary felony before he stole the ambulance.

The police stated that the ambulance was parked near Grossinger Motors Arena when Montgomery stole it. The vehicle was later found outside the DB Plasma Donation Centre on West Washington Street.

According to the court document, Montgomery was facing retail theft charges. But under the Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, he was released because those charges were considered non-detainable.

25newsnow further reported that the same court document also highlighted that the new ambulance burglary and theft charges fell under the same act. So, he was released again. In simple terms, that means the court lacked the authority to hold him in jail solely because of these charges.

After this, police later found the ambulance abandoned near the DB Plasma Donation Centre on West Washington Street. Although no one was found inside the vehicle at that time, the location was not far from where Montgomery allegedly stole it from.

Furthermore, the court record also confirmed that the public safety cameras in the downtown area captured a man standing near the ambulance before it disappeared. The man looked like Montgomery, and that’s why the police and investigators used that clip as part of the evidence.

Meanwhile, Montgomery told the police a different story after he was arrested. He said he was in the back of the ambulance looking for medications and that someone else was driving it.

That version does not match the police account, and prosecutors are treating him as the person responsible for taking the vehicle. As with any criminal case, he is accused, not convicted yet. And the court process is still moving forward.

The court document also says Montgomery took a neon-colored Bloomington Fire Department vest. Plus, officers said that Montgomery resisted when they tried to arrest him. The report also notes that Montgomery is barred from contacting arena property as part of his release conditions. He has been ordered to return to court on May 22.

The case has drawn attention because of how quickly it happened after Montgomery’s release. A man being accused of taking an ambulance near a busy public venue raises obvious safety concerns, especially when emergency vehicles are meant to be ready for people who need urgent help.

The ambulance was eventually recovered, but the case now moves to court, where prosecutors will present their evidence, and Montgomery will have a chance to respond.

The incident has raised questions about public safety and emergency services. Ambulances are vital for responding to health emergencies, so having one stolen can put people at risk by removing a resource from service. Residents and officials noted that the ambulance was fortunately recovered without injuries or further damage.