An attorney who allegedly stole a Chicago Fire Department ambulance in Chinatown and then led police on a 75-mile chase to downstate Dwight, Illinois, was ordered held in lieu of $20,000 bail by a Grundy County judge Wednesday.
Benjamin Herrington must post 10% of that amount to get out of jail. The judge gave Herrington permission to travel to Missouri while the case is pending and ordered him to take all prescribed medications and follow any treatment recommendations given by his doctor, according to court records.
Officials originally said Herrington would return to Cook County to face charges, but the case will now remain in the hands of Grundy County. The matter is set for a status hearing at 10:30 Thursday morning, records show.
Prosecutors charged Herrington with possessing a stolen motor vehicle and fleeing-eluding. Additional charges may be filed, Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland said.
Officials said Herrington jumped from an Amtrak train shortly after it left Union Station on Monday and eventually wound up at a fire station on the 200 block of West Cermak.
Surveillance video showed Chicago Fire Department ambulance #66 sitting outside the firehouse when a man climbed behind the wheel and drove away.
Herrington’s LinkedIn profile details a nearly 20-year career as an attorney, mostly at major law firms. The profile shows Herrington shifting to be co-founder of a company in 2019.
Herrington’s mother told WGN that he called her as he drove the ambulance to say he was trying to get to her home in St. Louis so he could get help with an addiction problem and mental health issues.
