N.Y. Stolen Emergency Vehicle Found, Suspect Arrested

Feb. 01--A man who slipped into an East Meadow pediatrician's office last month, taking the doctor's keys and driving off with a fire emergency vehicle, was caught Tuesday -- after being arrested by the Lynbrook police department on an unrelated charge, police said.

Emania Shepard, 50, of Hillside Avenue, Freeport, was charged in the stolen car case after Fifth Squad detectives recognized him as their suspect during a subsequent investigation, Nassau County police said.

Shepard was charged with second-degree burglary, six counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree grand larceny and two counts of petit larceny, police said.

He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said Shepard walked into the office of Dr. John Zaso just after 10 a.m. on Jan. 11, slipped past the front desk during a morning rush of patients, and took an employee's purse. After the doctor entered an exam room, police said video surveillance showed the suspect, now identified as Shepard, enter the doctor's private office -- where they said he took keys to the doctor's Jeep from his jacket pocket.

The Jeep Sahara was a so-called New York State "FLY" car used by fire departments to respond to medical emergencies. Debbie Zaso, who serves as office manager of the medical practice, told Newsday her husband is the medical director for three local departments.

After the theft, she said: "Our biggest concern is the fact that this car is out there rolling around . . . What if he impersonates an officer?"

Police recovered the vehicle in Uniondale on Jan. 16.

It was not immediately clear Wednesday why Shepard had been arrested by the Lynbrook police on Tuesday.

Copyright 2012 - Newsday, Melville, N.Y.