The 21-year-old man who stole an ambulance and led police on a chase over the weekend heard the charges against him on Tuesday.
Eric Wayne Preston was arraigned by way of video from the Macomb County Jail. He was charged with unlawfully driving away a vehicle, fleeing and eluding and resisting and obstructing a police officer. All three are felonies.
Family members told 7 Action News that Preston is unstable and that he was dropped off at the Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens Saturday by his girlfriend so he could get help.
When there was no doctor available to see him, they say that's when Preston left and made the decision to take the ambulance.
The Medstar ambulance was parked outside with the engine running.
Soon after he drove off, Macomb County Sheriff's deputies were in pursuit. Twice Preston left Groesbeck Highway in his attempt to elude authorities, but he was eventually taken into custody.
If convicted, Preston could face up to 5 years in prison on each of the first two counts and two years on the third.
Judge Daniel Goulette told Preston if he is convicted on these new charges, he would also be in violation of his current probation for a 2016 conviction for assaulting a police officer.
Preston is being held at the Macomb County jail on a $75,000 cash surety bond or 10 percent.
His probable cause hearing is scheduled for October 23.
