08/12/16 West New York, NJ – People Drinking In Public Call – Officers Investigating – 54 Year Old Man Jumps Into Marked Patrol Car And Drove Off – Captured In Patrol Car

August 12, 2016

nj.com

A 54-year-old West New York man charged with stealing a town marked police vehicle while officers were responding to a report of people drinking in public on Monday made his first court appearance on the charge today.

Hector A. Mencos, of the 300 block of 50th Street, is charged with theft of the 2006, 4-door Ford and his bail was set a $7,500 cash or bond, the criminal complaint says.

Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor John Wojtal said in court today that the incident occurred after Mencos was allowed to leave because he did not have an open container of alcohol when police responded to the call. But Mencos did not walk away. He allegedly got into the marked car and drove off, the prosecutor said.

Wojtal said police were able to track down the marked police car while Mencos was still inside and he was placed under arrest that day.

There are three warrants for Mancos’ arrest out of the West New York Municipal Court, two out of the Weehawken Municipal Court and one out of Union City Municipal Court, a court official said, adding that the warrants are all for ordinance violations and have total bails of about $1,500.

Mencos appeared in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City this afternoon via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.