PD: Woman Fled Custody, Stole Ambulance

Melina Silsbe, of Shirley, was charged with fleeing police custody in an ambulette before crashing and being taken into custody again Thursday.

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

A Shirley woman escaped police custody Thursday night, led police on a car chase through Commack in a stolen ambulance and later crashed, Suffolk police said.

Melina Silsbe, 24, was arrested Wednesday for “numerous” misdemeanor warrants and a felony warrant, but was transported to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown for treatment of “a medical condition,” police said.

Silsbe was guarded by a police officer, but managed to slip out of her restraints around 6 p.m. Thursday. She then stole an unoccupied ambulette from the hospital and led officers on a vehicle pursuit through Commack on Jericho Turnpike and then Sunken Meadow Parkway.

Police say Silsbe crashed into another vehicle on the parkway, was re-arrested and brought to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

Silsbe faces additional charges of second-degree escape, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving, second-degree reckless endangerment and unlawful fleeing from a police officer. She was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip today.

This is the second time in October a person has escaped Suffolk police custody.

On Oct. 2, police arrested Alexander Thomas, 25, of Huntington, on gun charges and transported him to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip after he was tased during the arrest. Thomas later assaulted a police officer in the hospital and fled on foot before he was captured by police. He also faces additional charges and was arraigned Oct. 3.