Crime

Merrick senior fed up with hospital care steals ambulance, heads to 7-Eleven

83-year-old man charged with grand larceny

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An 83-year-old Merrick man was arrested for signing himself out of the hospital and stealing an ambulance when he became fed up with the care he was receiving on Tuesday.

According to Nassau County Police, Donald Winkler, of Potter Avenue, was a patient at Nassau University Medical Center. At 1 a.m., he allegedly became upset with his care and left the building. He came upon a police ambulance with the keys in the ignition and drove it to a North Merrick 7-Eleven.

Police responded to a wellness check at the convenience store, where they found Winkler, who admitted to taking the ambulance and arrested, before being returned to the hospital for treatment and evaluation.

He is being charged with second-degree grand larceny and was arraigned at the hospital.