Charges certified against suspects who stole Roanoke City ambulances

Roanoke, Virginia – In Roanoke City Circuit Court, two cases involving two different stolen Roanoke City ambulances are currently pending.

On January 30, Antonio Hill is accused of grand larceny at the Roanoke Rescue Mission about a stolen ambulance. Monday was Hill’s court appearance.

An ambulance was parked next to the men’s door when crews from Roanoke City Fire-EMS were summoned to the Rescue Mission due to a sick person, according to a lieutenant in the department. It is standard procedure, according to the first responder, to leave the rig running while attending to a call.

After a short while, the ambulance was relocated to the Rescue Mission’s main door. According to the lieutenant, the distance from the ambulance’s original parking spot was around 150 yards.
Hill admitted he had taken the ambulance to the lieutenant and a police officer in Roanoke City. There were no reported missing items. With everything installed, the ambulance is estimated to be worth roughly $250,000.

A judge dismissed Hill’s assault and battery charge while certifying Hill’s grand larceny charge to a grand jury. Hill is scheduled to return to court in May.

On February 13, a second Roanoke City Fire-EMS ambulance was taken from the LewisGale Hospital emergency room in Salem. The charge against Jon Debord is felony unlicensed use of a vehicle.

A grand jury indicted Debord on the charge, and he is presently being held. His next court appearance is scheduled for July.

According to Roanoke Fire-EMS, the ambulances were found within 15 minutes of the theft in both instances.