Police: Drunk Man Steals Cab With 5 People Inside in Wantagh

A drunk Ronkonkoma man pushed a taxi driver in Wantagh, hopped in the man’s cab and then fled in the cab while five people were still inside early New Year’s Day, Nassau police said.

Christian N. Paz, 24, was arrested shortly after the incident, which began in front of a taxi stand at the Wantagh Long Island Rail Road station at about 2 a.m., police said.

According to police, Paz pushed the 46-year-old male driver and then drove away in the cab, which was occupied by three females and two males. Paz then allowed the occupants to get out of the cab in the vicinity of Sunrise Highway, police said.

Paz abandoned the car on Atlantic Boulevard and fled on foot, police said.

Seventh Precinct officers located Paz a short time later in front of 3360 Merrick Road in Seaford and he was placed in police custody without incident, police said.

Paz is charged with second degree robbery, third degree grand larceny, five counts of unlawful imprisonment and DWI.

He was due to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday.

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NCPD Photo: Christian Paz

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