ST. LOUIS • A patient left the emergency room and stole an ambulance from St. Louis University Hospital early Wednesday morning, police say.

Police recovered the ambulance a short time later and arrested the patient.

The man, 48, has not been identified.

The man had been taken to the emergency room after someone found him lying in the street. While he was being treated at the hospital, he left about 3:20 a.m. and took an ambulance parked outside.

Police recovered the ambulance near Mississippi Avenue and Lasalle Street, about a mile and a half from the hospital, said St. Louis Police Officer Michelle Woodling.

The man was booked on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. No one was hurt, police say.

The hospital is at Vista Avenue and South Grand Boulevard.

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