Man charged with stealing ambulance in Wisconsin Rapids found competent

PITTSVILLE, Wis. (WSAW) - A competency hearing was held on Monday for the Stevens Point man charged with stealing an ambulance with a patient still inside and leading authorities on a chase through Wood County.

Benjamin Feltz appeared in custody in Wood County court. He’s charged with 10 counts, including first-degree recklessly endangering safety.

The court found Feltz is mentally competent to proceed with future court hearings.

On Feb. 17, the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department was responding to a call at 5:30 p.m. The ambulance was parked in the 1400 block of 22nd Avenue South in the city while crews provided care to a patient.

Feltz, who authorities later learned had been evading law enforcement and was doing push-ups while naked in public, got into the ambulance driver’s seat. Two paramedics were in the patient compartment with the patient at the time.

One paramedic immediately got out of the ambulance to assess the situation and attempt to engage Feltz. At that point, Feltz began driving away. The second paramedic attempted to prevent Feltz from moving, but was forced out of the ambulance.

The chase headed west on State Highway 73, with Wood County sheriff’s deputies assisting. Wisconsin Rapids Officers attempted to end the chase by deploying tire deflation devices, but they were unsuccessful. As the chase entered Pittsville, officers from the Pittsville police department were ultimately successful in stopping the ambulance by using stop sticks in a field just west of Pittsville.

Feltz refused multiple commands to exit the ambulance. Because of the urgent concern for the patient still in the back of the ambulance, Wisconsin Rapids officers deployed a drone to safely observe Feltz from a distance. Then, a coordinated team of officers and deputies approached the ambulance and took Feltz into custody.

According to the criminal complaint, the chase lasted about 18 miles and reached speeds close to 90 MPH.

The criminal complaint also indicated that officers noticed signs of impairment and conducted a preliminary breath test. The test showed a 0.00 blood alcohol reading. Feltz later admitted he drank about half of a bottle of Fabuloso cleaner sometime during the afternoon. He told officers he didn’t have a reason for drinking the cleaner and said he was not trying to harm himself. He also admitted that there may be marijuana in his system.

The patient who was inside the ambulance during the theft told officers they were very shaken up but unharmed.

The patient’s name is being withheld to protect their privacy.

Feltz is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

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