A 19-year-old valet working at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Ohio has found himself behind bars after taking a patient's luxury Mercedes on an unauthorised high-speed joyride during his break.
The Reckless Midnight Ride
Lamar Williams, aged 19, decided to take the £115,000 Mercedes belonging to a clinic patient out for a spin in the early hours of Friday morning. Rather than using his own vehicle to collect a meal from Rally's fast food restaurant, Williams chose the patient's premium car because he considered it "better" than his own.
Newburgh Heights police intercepted Williams around 1:30am after clocking him travelling at a staggering 128mph in a 60mph zone on Interstate 77. When officers questioned the teenager, he claimed he believed he had only been driving between 80 and 90 miles per hour.
A Troubled Background and Immediate Regret
According to police reports, Williams revealed he had been working as a valet at the Cleveland Clinic for just one month. Prior to this employment, the young man had been homeless. He also told officers he couldn't afford to fill his own car with petrol, which contributed to his decision to take the luxury vehicle.
Body camera footage from the traffic stop captured Williams becoming visibly distraught upon learning he would be arrested. "Tell those people I'm so sorry, man, I'm so sorry, man. Please, tell them people I'm sorry, please," he pleaded with officers.
In a moment of compassion, the police allowed Williams to eat the meal he had purchased from Rally's in the back of their patrol vehicle before taking him into custody.
Relief for the Vehicle Owner and Clinic Response
The Mercedes owner, who had travelled to the Cleveland Clinic from out of town for a medical procedure, was reportedly "ecstatic" when informed his vehicle had been recovered safely. Newburgh Heights Police Sergeant Rachel Halaska noted that the patient "was in good spirits about it."
The patient had entrusted his vehicle to Towne Park Valet near the InterContinental Hotel on the clinic's campus, where he was staying during his treatment. He later informed police that he had just finished paying off the vehicle's £115,000 price tag.
Cleveland Clinic quickly issued a public statement clarifying that Williams was not their direct employee but worked for Towne Park, the vendor providing 24/7 valet services on their campus. The statement emphasised: "We take the safety and security of our patients and their property very seriously. We are working closely with law enforcement and the vendor involved to support the investigation and ensure appropriate actions are taken."
Charges and Wider Context
Williams now faces multiple charges including aggravated speeding, reckless operation, failure to show proof of financial responsibility and receiving stolen property.
This incident isn't the first time valets have succumbed to the temptation of luxury vehicles. Similar cases have occurred internationally, including a British man who returned from holiday in Portugal to discover his £50,000 Audi S3 had been taken for a 131mph joyride, and an influencer in Beverly Hills who caught a valet joyriding his half-million-pound Lamborghini.
