Memphis police take suspect into custody after private ambulance carjacking and pursuit ending in Parkway Village

Suspect arrested after ambulance taken near Sam Cooper Boulevard

Memphis police took a suspect into custody Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, after a private ambulance was carjacked near the intersection of Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman Street and later recovered following a pursuit that ended in Parkway Village.

Officers were dispatched at about 12:04 p.m. to the Sam Cooper and Tillman area, where the vehicle had been reported taken. Police later located the stolen ambulance and attempted to stop it, but the driver refused to comply, prompting a chase that continued until the vehicle reached Foxhall Drive in Parkway Village, where officers arrested the driver.

What police say happened before the ambulance was taken

The suspect was identified by police as James Shorter. Police said he had escaped from buckle guards while being transported from St. Francis Hospital. During the incident, two people connected to the ambulance—a passenger and the person operating the vehicle—abandoned it out of fear for their lives.

No injuries were reported in connection with the carjacking or the pursuit, police said. Authorities did not immediately confirm whether the ambulance had been responding to an emergency call or whether a patient was inside at the time it was taken.

Case status: custody confirmed, charges not yet detailed

Police said Shorter was taken into custody and that charges were pending. As of the latest available information from authorities, the specific offenses that will be filed and the timing of any court appearance had not been publicly detailed.

Key verified facts from the incident

• Event date and time: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026; officers dispatched around 12:04 p.m.
• Location of reported carjacking: Sam Cooper Boulevard and Tillman Street in Memphis.
• Recovery and arrest location: pursuit ended on Foxhall Drive in the Parkway Village area.
• Suspect identified by police: James Shorter.
• Injuries: none reported.
• Charges: pending at the time police confirmed custody.

Authorities have not confirmed whether a patient was in the ambulance or whether it was on an emergency run when it was taken.

The investigation remained ongoing as police worked to finalize the suspected violations tied to the reported escape, the taking of the ambulance, and the ensuing pursuit.