Nassau cops rearrest suspect who escaped police car in Hempstead

Nassau County police have captured a suspect who escaped from a Nassau police vehicle Tuesday and eluded authorities for several hours, police said Wednesday.

Detectives on Tuesday initially arrested Anthony Gagliardi, 38, in connection with a shoplifting case, but the suspect fled from the squad vehicle about 3:45 p.m. on Franklin Avenue in Hempstead Village, police said.

Gagliardi, who is homeless, ran off and was not tracked down until Wednesday morning, police said. Police late Tuesday had asked for the public’s help in finding him.

Details on how he was able to escape, whether he was handcuffed, how he was found and any actions taken against the officers in the case were not immediately released.

Gagliardi was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on charges of grand larceny and escaping police custody.

With Nicole Fuller