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Man Sentenced To 4 Years Behind Bars For Stealing Ambulance, Leading Police On Chase

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)  —  Authorities said Friday that a suspect accused of stealing an ambulance and leading police on a chase that ended in a crash, has been sentenced to nearly four years behind bars.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Mohamed Ali-Majad Zahr, 21, pleaded no contest on Thursday to one count each of carjacking and evading arrest. He was immediately sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.

Deputy DA Michael Dean said paramedics were treating Zahr -- described previously as a mental patient -- on Oct. 19 in downtown Los Angeles.

While Zahr was being treated, he unbuckled himself from a gurney in the ambulance and fled. A short time later, Zahr approached a woman sitting in her Toyota Camry when he approached the vehicle and tried to get inside, the deputy DA said.

After the woman honked her horn, Zahr ran back toward the ambulance. He got behind the wheel and drove away as paramedics jumped out of the ambulance's rear compartment.

Zahr drove erratically into opposing traffic lanes and at a high rate of speed, the prosecutor added. Zahr eventually collided with a white van, injuring two people.

A restitution hearing is set for Feb. 18.

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