News for those who live, work and play in North Santiam Canyon

Destruction – Santiam Hospital ambulance stolen, vandalized, totaled

Santiam Hospital lost an ambulance to theft and arson on July 21.

“A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible,” said Terry Fletchall, hospital president and chief executive officer, in a recent plea to the community. 

One of two new ambulances purchased and put into service within the last 30 days, the rig was stolen at 3:49 a.m. from the parking area in front of the hospital’s ambulance bays. 

“The ambulance was found several hours later outside of Mill City on a logging road and had been set on fire,” said Stayton Police Chief David Frisendahl. “It was determined to be a total loss by Santiam Hospital. The Linn County Sheriffs Office is working with us regarding the theft and arson of the ambulance and developing a description of the suspect.”

Frisendahl said the ambulance was valued at about $100,000, with an additional $50,000 in equipment. LCSO reported the shell of the ambulance was found in the 39000 block of Rock Creek Road south of Mill City. 

Fletchall said the suspect was caught on hospital security cameras, but still needs to be identified. 

“We will adjust protocols and safety measures to prevent another occurrence,” he said. 

Santiam Hospital is temporarily down to three ambulances, and per mutual aid agreements, will have to procure a fourth. Fletchall said ambulance director Adam Maurer is in the process of purchasing another ambulance.

“We thought about purchasing a third at the time we bought the two, so we have the cash,” Fletchall said. “The cost will come out of our operating funds.”

Meanwhile, Fletchall expects response times to be unaffected by the loss. 

“On the short term, if we got pushed, someone could be hurt by it,” he said. “Whether accidents or vehicle failure, the hospital has to be prepared for contingencies.”

The incident drew responses from throughout the area, including a post on the hospital Facebook page, “super heartbreaking and frustrating that this world is that broken.” Other FB remarks included “heartbreaking,” “senseless” and “despicable.”

Julie Nelson posted, “So sorry. Very sad, as if people, businesses and first responders don’t have enough to deal with.”

“A life could be lost because of this despicable act,” posted Judith Pifer.

No solid leads have yet been formed, Frisendahl said. 

“We are trying to develop a description” of the suspect, he added. 

Anyone having any knowledge about the incident is asked to reach out to the Stayton Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, or a member of Santiam Hospital’s administration staff. 

Santiam Hospital’s ambulance service covers Stayton, Mill City, Aumsville, Sublimity, Silverton, Albany
and Salem.

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