photo of suspect courtesy Hawaii County Police, image from scene by BIVN

(BIVN) – A 24-year-old Hilo man was arrested on Thursday for allegedly stealing an ambulance from the Hilo Medical Center.

Maksim Stasyuk was apprehended along Leilani Street, the road that leads to the Hilo Solid Waste Transfer Station, on Thursday afternoon.

Police detailed the incident in a Friday morning media release:

At 1:43 p.m., hospital staff reported that a privately owned ambulance belonging American Medical Response (AMR) was stolen from the hospital. An extensive search by police and AMR personnel was underway when a witness reported seeing the ambulance on Leilani Street, leading into the solid-waste transfer station.

At 2:20 p.m., police located the ambulance and arrested Maksim Stasyuk at the scene without incident. He is being held at the Hilo cellblock while detectives from the Criminal Investigation Section continue the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any other information about it is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Detective Kayne Kelii of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2378 or Kayne.Kelii@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.