Mercedes SUV Stolen With Toddlers In Backseat On LI: Police

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — An SUV was stolen early Monday from a hospital emergency room parking lot in Southampton with two toddlers in the backseat, police said.

According to Southampton Village Police, the incident took place when a report came in just before 1 a.m. about a 2015 Mercedes Benz SUV being stolen from the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital parking lot with two toddlers, ages 1 and 2, in the backseat.

Police were able to ping the cell phone that was left in the car and located the vehicle nearby on West Prospect Street, with the two toddlers unharmed in the rear seat, authorities said.

Lonne Lee Pernell, 26, who is unhoused, was found a short distance away and arrested, police said. He was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony; as well as two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, petty larceny, and third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors, police said.

He was taken into custody without incident and, at his arraignment, Pernell was discharged and placed on supervised release, police said.

Around 1:30 a.m., the mother was reunited with her children, who were unharmed, police said.