Stevens Point Man Found Competent to Stand Trial Following High Speed Ambulance Theft and 18 Mile Chase

A Wood County judge ruled Benjamin Feltz is competent to stand trial for stealing an ambulance with a patient inside and leading an 18-mile police chase.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 4:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WBAY

Judicial Determination of Mental Competency

The legal proceedings against a Stevens Point man accused of a harrowing ambulance hijacking moved forward Monday following a critical competency hearing. A Wood County judge reviewed psychological evaluations and determined that Benjamin Feltz possesses the mental capacity to understand the charges against him and assist in his own defense. This ruling allows the state to proceed with a trial involving ten separate counts, including the felony charge of first degree recklessly endangering safety, which had been stalled pending the mental health assessment.

A Broad Daylight Hijacking with Paramedics on Board

The charges stem from a chaotic scene on February 17, when Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department crews were treating a patient in the 1400 block of 22nd Avenue South. While paramedics were occupied in the rear compartment, Feltz allegedly entered the driver’s seat. According to court documents, one paramedic was forced out of the vehicle as Feltz began to pull away, leaving a second medic and a vulnerable patient trapped in the back as the emergency vehicle accelerated into a dangerous pursuit.

High Speed Pursuit Through Wood County Corridors

The ensuing chase covered approximately 18 miles and saw the stolen ambulance reaching speeds of nearly 90 MPH on State Highway 73. Local law enforcement, including Wood County sheriff’s deputies and Wisconsin Rapids officers, made multiple unsuccessful attempts to disable the vehicle using tire deflation technology. The pursuit only came to a conclusion when Pittsville police successfully deployed stop sticks, forcing the ambulance into a field just west of the city limits.