A man accused of taking an ambulance from the emergency entrance to the county hospital last week and going on a joy ride had his bond revoked by a circuit judge in two other pending cases involving the sale of drugs and drunken driving.
James Brian Buckley, 30, of 726 Hickory Road, was charged with grand larceny after the ambulance was returned to the hospital a short time after it was taken on the night of March 5.
At the time of the incident, Buckley was out on two bonds after being indicted for sale of cocaine and driving under the influence of alcohol, third or subsequent offense.
Circuit Judge Marcus Gordon told Buckley he had been given "every opportunity to stay out of jail and not get into trouble" after hearing testimony from a sheriff's deputy and an emergency medical technician who was at the hospital on the night the ambulance was stolen.
EMT Steve Johnson testified that he had parked the ambulance near the emergency room after transporting a patient to the hospital about 9 p.m.
He witnessed the vehicle leaving the hospital and identified Buckley as the driver of the ambulance when it returned.
No damage was reported to the ambulance, he said.
Deputy Sheriff Coby Clay testified that he took Buckley into custody after he detected the scent of alcohol on his breath.
Buckley appeared to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor when he spoke, Clay told the court.
Buckley gave verbal permission for Clay to test his blood for alcohol on the night in question, the officer said.
The results have not been returned from the state crime lab, he said.
