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UPDATE: Accused Geneseo Ambulance Thief Challenges Evidence

GENESEO – A SUNY Geneseo student was arrested by the Geneseo Police Department early Saturday morning after allegedly stealing a Geneseo ambulance that had responded to campus for a 911 call, joyriding through the Village and being chased and tackled by officers near Main Street.

According to Geneseo Police Chief Eric Osganian, Colin Dahlberg, 22, was arrested for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a C felony, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Intoxicated, and Driving Out of Class, with further charges pending.

“University Police realized the ambulance was gone, and gave a call on the radio to look for a missing ambulance,” said Osganian. “When he was arrested, he blew a .20. What’s most fortunate is that he didn’t kill someone, driving with a BAC that high.”

At 3:27 a.m. on Saturday, a 911 call from campus reported a heavily intoxicated subject at Genesee Hall (see map below) who possibly needed emergency medical treatment. While first responders with Geneseo Fire and Ambulance and University Police were tending to the victim, Dahlberg allegedly got into the ambulance and drove off campus and through the village while intoxicated.

Geneseo Police Officers and Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputies found the ambulance parked near the Post Office on South Street, but when they approached the driver, he fled on foot. Officer Raymond Goulet chased and arrested Dahlberg on Center Street near Main Street, assisted by Sheriff’s Deputies.

A breath test found that Dahlberg’s Blood Alcohol Content was 0.2, more than twice the legal limit to drive. Dahlberg is not licensed to drive ambulances.

Osganian added that further charges are pending since the alleged theft made it impossible for first responders to transport the patient to a hospital.

The ambulance was returned to ambulance personnel so that they could complete their call.

Dahlberg was arraigned in Geneseo Village Court before Justice Thomas Bushnell and remanded to the Livingston County Jail on $1,500 cash or $3,000 bond.