Escaped Suspect May Have Swiped Handcuff Keys Off Sleeping NYPD Officer

The suspect who escaped NYPD custody after being arrested for swiping a boat from a Manhattan marina to go for a naked joyride may have stolen the keys to unlock his handcuffs from a sleeping officer who was supposed to be guarding him, the Daily News has learned.
Stephen Blasetti escaped New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia, where he was taken for evaluation after his arrest, after the cop assigned to watch over him dozed off for a few minutes, multiple police sources said.
He fled in a white lab coat he apparently swiped to disguise himself as a doctor, a surveillance image obtained shows.

NEW YORK -- The suspect who escaped NYPD custody after being arrested for swiping a boat from a Manhattan marina to go for a naked joyride may have stolen the keys to unlock his handcuffs from a sleeping officer who was supposed to be guarding him, the Daily News has learned.

Stephen Blasetti escaped New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia, where he was taken for evaluation after his arrest, after the cop assigned to watch over him dozed off for a few minutes, multiple police sources said. He fled in a white lab coat he apparently swiped to disguise himself as a doctor, a surveillance image obtained by The News shows.

Cops on Thursday were trying to determine if Blasetti, 36, managed to swipe the handcuff keys off the sleeping cop before fleeing the Washington Heights about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Blasetti, who was naked when he was arrested Saturday for trying to steal a boat moored on the Hudson River, was wearing blue hospital pants, the white lab coat and hospital socks when he was caught on surveillance video leaving the hospital. He has not been caught.

Blasetti is facing grand larceny charges for allegedly swiping a keelboat from the Dyckman Marina in Inwood around noon Saturday and rowed it to a trimaran moored out in the Hudson River.

NYPD Harbor Unit cops nabbed Blasetti naked on the second vessel, officials said.

It was believed he was high on drugs, possibly methamphetamines, at the time of his arrest and was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

He had been in the hospital under guard since Saturday and was still awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court when he gave cops the slip.

It was not immediately clear if any of the officers responsible for watching Blasetti at the hospital are facing department discipline. An email to the NYPD was not immediately returned.

Anyone with information on the escaped prisoner’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.