Crime & Safety
Man Pulled From Lake Quinsigamond After Leaving Ambulance In Worcester
For about two hours, the man refused to leave the water or comply with the police, officials said.
WORCESTER, MA — New details released Friday describe how police officers jumped into Lake Quinsigamond to help bring a 19-year-old man to safety after he fled from an ambulance earlier this week.
The man fled from an ambulance at UMass Memorial Medical Center on Lake Avenue in Worcester at about 9:55 a.m. Wednesday and soon entered Lake Quinsigamond north of Regatta Point State Park on the Worcester side of the lake, according to Shrewsbury police.
The man had been transported by ambulance from Spencer to UMass Memorial Medical Center before he ran from the vehicle, according to Worcester police. Worcester police and firefighters responded to the lake after he entered the water.
Shrewsbury police said multiple officers launched the department’s boat after being notified that a person was in the water. The department’s jet ski was also launched later, as officers assisted the Worcester and UMass police.
For about two hours, the man refused to leave the water or comply with the police, according to Shrewsbury police. The Worcester Police Crisis Intervention Team also tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to get out of the lake.
At about 12:10 p.m., Lt. Caviston and Detective Chysna, who had deployed the Shrewsbury police jet ski, decided to jump into the water and physically escort the man to safety, according to Shrewsbury police.
The man was brought to shore, handcuffed and loaded onto the Shrewsbury police boat. He was then taken to the docks at Regatta Point and transferred to an ambulance, police said.
Shrewsbury officers on land also responded, along with the Shrewsbury Police Department Drone Unit and the Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Additional details about the man’s condition or identity were not released.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:05 a.m. Friday to include additional information.
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