Deer Park woman threatened family member of officer who arrested her months ago, cops say

A Deer Park woman was arrested for making a harassing phone call to a family member of the Suffolk County police officer who arrested her last year, authorities said.

Beatrix Lacroix, 31, placed the call Saturday to a relative of the officer who had arrested her months earlier, following a Oct. 23 car wreck that left her facing 12 charges, Suffolk police said.

Lacroix’s top charge from that arrest was third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle. She also faces reckless driving; running a red light; multiple counts of speeding and failing to stop at a stop sign; two counts of an illegal signal; and driving with an improper license. She pleaded not guilty to all charges; one of the two fleeing counts was later dismissed.

Lacroix was again arrested on Tuesday and charged with second-degree aggravated harassment. She pleaded not guilty to the charge at her arraignment Wednesday in Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the department would not tolerate retaliation against officers or their families.

“We expect our officers to carry out their duties professionally and without fear that arrests made in the line of duty will lead to intimidation, harassment, or retaliation against them or their families,” he said.

“Attempts to infiltrate or target the personal lives of our officers are unacceptable, and we will not tolerate any form of retaliation directed at those who serve and protect this community,” Catalina added.

Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello called the case a warning sign about officer safety beyond the precinct.

“The ease with which a criminal was able to find and threaten the family member of a cop who had arrested him is chilling,” Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello said. “Police officers’ families are not safe in their own homes. This underscores the need for tougher laws to not only prosecute these crimes but to prevent them from happening.”

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