Man Who Stole Boat for Naked Joyride Escapes NYPD Custody at Hospital

NEW YORK -- A man arrested for swiping a boat from a Manhattan marina to go for a naked joyride on the Hudson River escaped NYPD custody at the hospital where he was being treated Wednesday, police sources said.

Stephen Blasetti, 36, slipped out of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia in Washington Heights about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, despite being in police custody there.

He may have slipped out of the hospital after donning a lab coat and pretending to be a doctor, according to unconfirmed preliminary reports.

He is facing grand larceny charges for allegedly swiping a dinghy from the Dyckman Marina in Inwood around noon Saturday, then rowed to a catamaran that was moored out in the Hudson River.

NYPD Harbor Unit cops nabbed Blasetti, who was naked at the time of his arrest, on the second boat, 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’s been in the hospital, under guard, since Saturday and was still awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court when he gave cops the slip.

Cops on Wednesday were trying to determine exactly how he escaped the hospital and were scouring the area for surveillance footage that could help them track him down.

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

©2025 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.