A man caused quite the stir after he was arrested at a Manhattan marina following a bizarre series of events. This unfolded when a naked Stephen Blassetti, 36, took off in two stolen boats after escaping from a nearby hospital on Wednesday.
Blassetti was charged with grand theft, possession of stolen property, and reckless endangerment after he bolted from Columbia University Irving Medical Center early Saturday morning, around 6:30 a.m. Sources indicate that although he was initially wearing blue hospital pants and socks, he was shoeless by the time he made his escape.
Details surrounding his escape are unclear, particularly how he managed to flee without any restraints, as officers from the NYPD Harbor Unit were later involved in his apprehension.
Reports mention that he had jumped into a dinghy at Dinghee Street Marina around noon after staff asked him to leave due to erratic behavior. Officers revealed that he was high on methamphetamine at the time and had already begun heading towards the Hudson River when he was stopped.
As the situation unfolded, NYPD’s air and harbor units were alerted and began their search for the man. After Blassetti managed to get onto a larger catamaran, police were quick to respond and apprehend him on board.
Once arrested, he was taken back to Columbia University Irving Medical Center for further treatment. It’s worth noting that Blassetti has a history of unstable behavior, with 73 previous encounters documented by the NYPD regarding emotionally disturbed individuals. He also has past arrests for robbery and gun-related offenses, although these records have since been sealed. Currently, he has no open cases in the city.
