New Jersey man charged with brandishing gun, menacing Lyft driver in Noyac

A 34-year-old New Jersey man was charged with menacing Sunday after he pointed a gun at his Lyft driver, then fired into the air while standing in a driveway in Noyac, authorities said.

Southampton town police received a 911 call about the man from his Lyft driver at 9:30 p.m., according to a police news release. The driver described the man as highly intoxicated and said as he drove him from Sag Harbor to the Noyac home, the man brandished a handgun outside of the window, dry fired it and pointed the gun at him through the window.

Dry firing a weapon is simulating shooting without ammunition in the chamber.

The man later fired "multiple rounds" into the air while in the Noyac home’s driveway, police said.

The Southampton department sent its drone and emergency service units, detectives and crisis negotiators to the scene. Suffolk police also sent a K-9 unit. Three people were evacuated from inside the home. Neighbors from nearby homes were also evacuated, police said.

Police said Patrick Santos was later charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors. He was taken to Southampton Town police headquarters and held for arraignment Monday. Updated arraignment information for Santos was not immediately available late Monday afternoon.

It was unclear if Santos had a lawyer.

"Driver and rider safety is our top priority, and Lyft has a strict no weapons policy. We have removed the rider from the Lyft community and reached out to the driver to offer support," a Lyft spokesperson said in an email.

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.