North Bellmore man charged in assault on Uber driver, cops say

A North Bellmore man allegedly beat an Uber driver unconscious with a flashlight early Sunday morning and surrendered to police more than 12 hours later, authorities said.

Phillip Gannotta, 23, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal mischief, Nassau County police said in a news release. He will be arraigned Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Gannotta and two friends ordered an Uber from Massapequa Park to a North Bellmore address, police said. The driver, a 23-year-old man, took the trio to Bedford Avenue and Sunrise Highway when he and Gannotta began arguing around 1:15 a.m.

Gannotta got out of the car and punched and kicked the vehicle, breaking a back window, police said. He allegedly hit the driver several times in the face with a flashlight and kicked him in the face, causing facial fractures, and knocked him unconscious.

The driver was taken to the hospital and was listed in stable condition on Sunday night, police said. Gannotta surrendered to detectives at the Seventh Precinct at 3:10 p.m.