Third Squad detectives report the arrest of East Meadow man for an incident that occurred on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 6:25 pm in Westbury.

According to detectives, Genri Palacios Acosta, 35, of 521 Hull Street, hired an Uber who took him to Target, 999 Corporate Drive and waited for him to return from the store. While inside, Acosta selected several items from the store, placed them in a shopping cart and fled the store without paying. Acosta was followed out into the parking lot by store security and ran from the cart leaving it with the items inside. Acosta then ran back to the Uber and after entering the car, the driver, a 28 year old male, who observed his actions, refused to drive him from the scene and exited the vehicle. Acosta then reentered the car into the driver’s seat and the Uber driver then quickly entered the passenger’s seat. A struggle ensued for the car keys and Acosta began driving away. After threatening the use of a gun and the vehicle slowing down, the Uber driver jumped from the moving vehicle. Acosta then fled the area with the victim’s car.

A subsequent investigation ensued and it was discovered that Acosta, who was identified as the subject involved in the incident, was previously arrested on Sunday, February 2, 2020, and as a result was fitted with an ankle monitoring bracelet by Nassau County Probation.

Using that monitoring bracelet, Acosta was located outside his East Meadow home sitting in a taxi cab that he hired to take him to his house. He was then placed under arrest without incident. During his arrest Acosta was found to be in possession of a vile of marijuana and a glass pipe containing crack cocaine. The vehicle that he took from the Uber driver was located in Hempstead.

Acosta is charged with Robbery 2^nd Degree, Petit Larceny and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7^th Degree. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on 2/7/2020.

 Details by: Det. Dluginski/3^rd Squad 02/07/20