Cops: Escaped prisoner stole ambulance

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - Police say a prisoner escaped from a Long Island hospital and stole an ambulance before crashing it. It happened around 6 p.m. Thursday.

Suffolk County police said Melina Silsbe, 24, was arrested on Oct. 7 for numerous misdemeanor warrants and a felony warrant.  A short time later, she was transported to St. Catherine of Sienna Medical Center in Smithtown.

Police say the next day, at approximately 6 p.m., Silsbe was able to slip out of restraints and flee from the hospital by stealing an ambuance that was unoccupied and running in front of the main entrance of the hospital. 

Silsbe led officers on a vehicle pursuit on Jericho Turnpike through Commack and onto the Sunken Meadow Parkway where she eventually crashed into another vehicle.

Silsbe, of Shirley, was arrested and transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore where she was treated for minor injuries and released. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

In addition to the charges from her arrest on October 7, Silsbe is also charged with Escape 2nd Degree, Grand Larceny 4th Degree, Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree and Unlawful Fleeing from a Police Officer.

She was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Friday.