Howard Koplowitz
al.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Authorities are searching for a Jefferson County inmate who escaped from custody and stole an ambulance while being taken to UAB Hospital for treatment Wednesday afternoon.
Phillip Shane Bradford, 45, overpowered the sheriff’s deputy who took him to the hospital around 4 p.m. Wednesday and fled the scene in an unoccupied ambulance, the sheriff’s office said.
Birmingham police found the stolen ambulance in the Robinwood area.
Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, including K-9 deputies, and Birmingham police are involved in the search for Braford.
The inmate had been charged with first-degree robbery, obstruction of governmental operations, possession of drug paraphernalia, attempting to elude and third-degree escape, the sheriff’s office said.
He also has one failure to appear charge and nine probation violations.
Anyone who spots Bradford was asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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