Novi Man Charged After Stealing Ambulance, Crashing Vehicle

A man from Novi, Michigan, faces multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing an ambulance, crashing it into another vehicle, and resisting arrest. Changlin Li, 33, is currently held at the Oakland County Jail on a bond of $5 million following the incident that occurred on October 24, 2025.

At approximately 15:15 local time, Li is said to have entered a Medstar ambulance while a paramedic and a patient were inside. According to Commander Bob Manar of the Novi Police Department, Li drove the ambulance south on Novi Road with its emergency lights activated. Officers initiated a pursuit that continued for two miles until the ambulance reached the intersection of Eight Mile Road.

The vehicle ran a red light at Beck Road and subsequently collided with another vehicle traveling southbound. The impact caused the ambulance to catch fire. Li attempted to escape on foot but was quickly apprehended by responding officers.

Both the paramedic and the patient, along with the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

During the arrest, Li allegedly attempted to grab a firearm from an officer on the scene and later at the hospital. He was found to be in possession of a knife at the time of his apprehension.

Li faces several serious charges, including second-degree fleeing and eluding, two counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer, two counts of peace officer disarming a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and carjacking, all of which are felonies.

Commander Manar noted that the motive behind Li’s actions remains unclear, stating that there have been no indications of alcohol or drug involvement. Furthermore, it is not known whether Li has any prior criminal history or a background of mental health issues.

The incident has raised questions about public safety and the need for enhanced situational awareness among emergency responders, prompting discussions on how such occurrences can be prevented in the future.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to understand the full circumstances surrounding this alarming incident in Novi.