An Alva man has been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle after getting in an unattended Alva ambulance and attempting to drive away.

According to court records, on Nov. 11 about 5:10 p.m. Alva Police Officer Kris Franta was dispatched to the 900 block of Locust Street for a disturbance involving a knife. Arriving with Franta were Deputy Adam Honeyman and Alva Officer Ron Vasquez.

The officers spoke with Dalton Mahoney who was on duty for Alva EMS. Mahoney said he had gone into his house for a moment, leaving the ambulance running and parked in the street. While inside, he heard the backup alarm of the ambulance.

Mahoney said he went outside and observed the ambulance being backed out of the driveway across the street from his house. Mahoney said as he approached he recognized the driver as his uncle Eric Thebo. Mahoney said he yelled at Thebo who pulled the ambulance partially into his driveway. He said he confronted Thebo as he exited the vehicle. Then Thebo pulled out a knife, holding it up and telling him to shut the f--- up. He said his uncle then walked away toward his residence on Ninth Street.

Officer Sean Farris went to Thebo’s residence where he knocked and asked Thebo to come outside to talk. According to the affidavit, Thebo said he was going to teach Mahoney a lesson about leaving the keys in the vehicle and taking the vehicle was a joke. Thebo denied pulling a knife on Mahoney but said he lifted his shirt with the sole purpose of exposing the knife he was carrying on his belt.

Eric Lee Thebo, 56, of Alva, has been charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and with assault with a dangerous weapon, both felonies. The vehicle charge is punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not to exceed two years. The weapon charge is punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years in the penitentiary or one year in the county jail.