Man Escapes Hospital After Naked Boat Theft

Stephen Blasetti, 36, who was arrested for allegedly stealing two boats and taking a naked, drug-fueled joyride on Manhattan’s Hudson River, escaped NYPD custody while under psychiatric evaluation at a New York hospital. Blasetti reportedly slipped out of his handcuffs and disguised himself in a lab coat and hospital pants, possibly after stealing the handcuff keys from the officer guarding him, who had fallen asleep. The officer has been suspended without pay pending an internal review. Surveillance footage documented Blasetti’s escape in disguise, and he remains at large. Police believe he was under the influence of methamphetamines during the boating incident, and authorities are urging the public to report any information to Crime Stoppers. An investigation into the circumstances of the escape is ongoing.