Uber For Escapee? Medina Inmate May Have Used Ride Service

MEDINA, OH — Police spent part of the weekend searching for Joshua Bragg, a Medina County inmate, who jumped out of the back of an ambulance while on medical furlough. Reports now suggest Bragg may have used Uber to aid his escape, according to reports.

The 22-year-old was on his way to Cleveland Clinic-Medina Hospital Sunday night when he unbuckled himself from an ambulance and took off running, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Ambulance workers did not chase Bragg, but instead went back to the hospital and called police. Medina County Sheriff Ken Baca later said that the ambulance workers did the right thing by not trying to restrain Bragg.

Officers initially searched the immediate area around the hospital and a nearby stretch of wooded land, to no success. Instead, Bragg was found five hours later, at about 11 p.m., at a relative's house in Newburgh Heights.

Investigators were initially baffled on how Bragg managed to get from Medina to Newburgh Heights, a journey of about 31 miles, or 39 minutes. Baca told cleveland.com Monday that Bragg may have taken an Uber.

It's not clear where Bragg may have gotten a cell phone to call the ride service.

Bragg was previously indicted for possession of cocaine. He will now be charged for escaping as well, authorities said.

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