ST. LOUIS, MO (June 27, 2024) — Dwane Vardiman, 49, was found guilty of resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle after stealing an ambulance from a hospital in Jefferson County and leading police on a pursuit through the city on October 3, 2022.

Vardiman had spent the night of October 2 at Mercy Hospital in Festus for a fentanyl overdose. At 8:30 a.m. the next day, he stole an ambulance belonging to the Valle Ambulance District parked outside the hospital and drove it into the city. Two St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers in a patrol car saw the ambulance heading south on Jefferson Avenue at an excessive rate of speed and began to pursue it with their warning lights and sirens on. During the 20-minute pursuit, Vardiman sped through heavy morning traffic, running red lights and driving in construction zones. He struck two police cars and one car driven by a civilian. The pursuit ended when police deployed spike strips and deflated his tires.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorneys Andrew Russek and Kerri Davis.

“This office takes reckless driving extremely seriously,” said Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “It is fortunate -- and remarkable – that no one was injured by the defendant’s irresponsible behavior.”  

Vardiman remains free on bond, although prosecutors had requested that his bond be revoked after he was found guilty. He has previous convictions in St. Charles County for stealing, sexual misconduct, forgery and identity theft.

Vardiman is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

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