Man Brandishes Apparent Handgun During Lyft Ride, Fires Multiple Rounds Into Air: Police

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — An intoxicated passenger brandished what appeared to be a handgun during a Lyft ride, and then fired multiple rounds into the air after he was dropped off, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place on Sunday at about 9:30 p.m. Southampton Town police received a 911 call from a Lyft driver about a fare he had picked up in Sag Harbor and was transporting to a residence in Noyac, police said.

The driver reported that his fare was highly intoxicated and had brandished a handgun out of the vehicle window and dry fired it while he was driving him to the residence, police said.

Upon dropping him off, the man pointed the handgun at the driver through the vehicle window; the man also fired multiple rounds into the air while in the driveway, police said.

The driver left and the man went into the residence, police said.

Upon arrival Southampton Town police patrol and Community Response Unit officers evacuated nearby residences as a precaution, police said.

The Southampton Town Police Department's drone unit, Emergency Services Unit, detectives, crisis negotiators and Suffolk County Sheriff’s K-9 responded to the scene, police said.

Police learned that the man was in the residence with three other individuals; all three were safely evacuated from the residence and the man was taken into custody, police said.

A search warrant was executed at the residence and an imitation handgun and ammunition were found, police said.

Patrick Santos, 34, of New Jersey, was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor, and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor, police said.

He was transported to Southampton Town police headquarters and held for morning arraignment, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Southampton Town Police Department's detective division at 631-728-3400; the Southampton Town Police Tips Hotline at 631-728-3454 or Tips email: crimetips@southamptontownny.gov.