Prostitute hired by off-duty New York cop ends up stealing his car, gun, reports say

Taquanna Lawton, 20, is accused of stealing Ali Sheppard's vehicle after he's hired her for a rendezvous. Sheppard is a 13-year veteran with the NYPD.
(DCPI)

An off-duty New York City police officer reportedly hired in Brooklyn prostitute who ended the night by stealing his personal car and service weapon when he stopped at an ATM to pay her, reports say.

Officer Ali Sheppard, a 13-year veteran NYPD, was driving his car – a 2015 Jeep Wrangler – when he hired Taquanna Lawton at around 12:15 am Tuesday, sources told the New York Post.

The two were on their way to a motel in East New York. But before the meeting, the 38-year-old cop stopped at an ATM to withdraw cash. Lawton, 20, allegedly used the opportunity to jump into the Jeep driver's seat and take off. Sheppard's service was still in the front seat.

Lawton was arrested several hours later. The vehicle and gun were recovered Wednesday in New York, sources told the New York Daily News.

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Lawton will face criminal charges and Sheppard was suspended. It's unclear if he will deal with any charges.

"NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said at an unrelated press conference on Wednesday. "We are working on the investigation."

Sheppard's father, Eugene Sheppard, told the Daily News that he was surprised to hear of the allegations, saying he had never been in trouble.

"I've never heard that he would pick up a prostitute," he said. "I'm in shock, actually. This is a child that I have never known anything like this to happen, ever. He's a good kid. "