Police said a Gastonia woman spent about 10 minutes joyriding in a stolen ambulance in Hickory.
They say Norma Jean James jumped into the ambulance outside Frye Regional Medical Center Saturday night while the emergency medical technician stepped inside for a moment.
They said she stopped a few minutes later, and asked a man for a cigarette and directions to Gastonia.
Officers then spotted her at an intersection and arrested her.
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