Three arrested in Elmont car theft

Three people were arrested for allegedly stealing a car from Elmont on Feb. 12, Nassau County police report.

According to detectives, a 37-year-old male was driving eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike near the intersection of Stone Street, when he noticed a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe similar to the one he had previously reported stolen pulling into the Sunoco gas station. The Elmont man then confronted the driver of the vehicle, police said, before the driver and two other occupants fled on foot southbound on Stone Avenue.

Police arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and following an investigation with the help of the Nassau County Police Department Canine and Aviation units, the officers were able to locate the three suspects in the backyard of a house on Jacob Street. All three were taken into custody without incident.

Joshua Mayes, 19, of Freeport was charged with grand larceny in the third degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, criminal trespass in the third degree, unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third-degree and unlawful possession of marijuana in the first degree.

Mia Escobar, 18, of Valley Stream, and a 16-year-old female juvenile, meanwhile, were both charged with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal trespass and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle.

They were arraigned on Feb. 14, and Escobar was granted a temporary order of protection and was released without bail. Mayes also requested a temporary order of protection, and both cases were adjourned.