Alyssa Ridenour
reporter@greenepublishing.com
On Tuesday, March 16 at approximately 2:51 p.m., Officer Flanders of the Madison Police Department (MPD) was contacted by Officer Korey of the MPD and advised to meet him at Madison County Memorial Hospital (MCMH). Upon arrival, Korey informed her that after running the registration on a refrigerated box truck of an MCMH patient, it came back as stolen out of Tampa, Fla. After sending the location of the stolen vehicle to the Tampa Police Department (TPD), Flanders went into MCMH to make contact with the subject who drove the vehicle to the hospital.
The subject identified himself as 34-year-old Christopher Gray. After being read his Miranda Rights, Gray waived them and agreed to speak to Flanders in regards to the incident. Gray explained that while walking down the street, he noticed a nearby box truck with the keys still in the ignition. He then got into the truck and drove away, claiming that he felt someone had left it there for him to help him escape from the people who he claimed were after him.
Flanders asked Gray where he went with the box truck, and Gray stated that he went straight to MCMH, because he was looking for a hospital as far away from the people who were after him as possible. During the interview, Gray reiterated multiple times that he took the vehicle and never denied the claim at any point. Sergeant Investigator Joost came on scene to process the vehicle and collect fingerprints and evidence. Certified Towing removed the vehicle from the scene and took it to their towing yard until the owner or TPD arrives to pick it up.
After speaking with Gray, Flanders followed up with the medical staff and was informed that Gray was medically cleared. Due to his clearance, Flanders placed Gray in wrist restraints and advised him that he was under arrest for grand theft of a motor vehicle. He was transported to Madison County Jail and handed over to corrections staff without further incident.