Man accused of stealing payment machine jumps into Central Park lake while fleeing NYPD
A 23-year-old man allegedly stole a tap-payment machine from a dry cleaner in Manhattan on Monday and jumped into Harlem Meer while being chased by police. The suspect was pulled from the water about 20 minutes later and struggled with officers during his arrest. He faces petit larceny charges with arraignment pending.
Jason Taylor, 23, allegedly entered a dry cleaner on Lenox Avenue around 3:35 p.m. and requested restroom access. When staff refused, he reportedly took the shop's tap-payment machine and fled. NYPD officers pursued him south toward West 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, where he jumped into Harlem Meer, a lake within Central Park. Medics retrieved him from the water approximately 20 minutes later. Video footage shows Taylor struggling with multiple officers before being fully restrained and removed from the lake. He has been charged with petit larceny, with his arraignment pending as of Tuesday.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Accused crook leaps into NYC’s Central Park lake while running from cops
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