A 23-year-old man turned the quiet northeast corner of Central Park into a brief spectacle on Monday when he jumped into the Harlem Meer while trying to outrun NYPD officers pursuing him over an alleged theft in Harlem. After about 20 minutes in the water, first responders pulled him out and took him to Mount Sinai Morningside, where he was reported in stable condition. Police then arrested him and charged him with petit larceny.
How the chase unfolded
According to police, officers first approached the man in Harlem around 4:54 p.m. as they investigated a reported larceny. The pursuit led into Central Park, where the suspect dove into the Harlem Meer near West 110th Street in what looked like a last-ditch bid to get away.
Video posted to the Citizen app shows several officers lining the shore while emergency crews worked at the water’s edge, Patch reported. An NYPD helicopter hovered over the lake as divers went into the water and medics pulled the swimmer from the surface before he was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside in stable condition, according to Fox News.
The alleged theft that led to the chase
The NYPD identified the suspect as 23-year-old Jason Taylor, who officers say was wanted for allegedly grabbing a tap payment device from a dry cleaner on Lenox Avenue after staff told him he could not use the restroom, according to PIX11. Police arrested Taylor after pulling him from the water, and authorities told PIX11 that his arraignment was pending on Tuesday.
Charges and legal context
Taylor is facing a charge of petit larceny. Police said he was in stable condition after treatment and was taken into custody. Under New York Penal Law §155.25, petit larceny is classified as a class A misdemeanor for theft of property valued at $1,000 or less. The full text of the statute is available on Justia.
Park context and safety
Diving into a city lake to escape the police is not the NYPD’s usual chase scenario, and it adds a layer of risk for bystanders and rescuers who suddenly have to manage a water incident instead of a street stop. The Harlem Meer covers roughly 11 acres at Central Park’s northeast corner and has a documented history of rescues and drownings, a record detailed by the Village Voice.
The NYPD says the investigation is still active, and more details are expected to surface as court officials release charging and arraignment information.
