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More than 1,000 police officers gathered at St. Patrick’s RC Church in Smithtown on Thursday to pay their respects to Officer Patricia Espinosa, 42
The arraignment of the 20-year-old accused of driving drunk in the crash that killed a Nassau County Police Officer is scheduled for Friday in Suffolk’s First District Court in Central Islip, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
A spokesperson for the District Attorney Raymond Tierney said Smith is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Friday in courtroom D11 on the ground floor of the courthouse.
Smith of Hauppauge is charged with driving while intoxicated in connection with the Jan. 31 crash in St. James that killed Patricia Espinosa, 42. Authorities said Smith allegedly ran a red light at the intersection of Alexander Avenue and Route 347 about 6 a.m., striking Espinosa’s vehicle as she was driving to work.
Espinosa was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Smith also went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and remained hospitalized in the days following the crash.
He will spend Thursday night in jail at Suffolk Police’s Sixth Precinct in Selden, police said.
The announcement of his forthcoming arraignment came the same day as Espinosa’s funeral, which was held in St. Patrick’s RC Church in Smithtown, drawing a large law-enforcement presence from across Long Island and beyond.
Colleagues, family members and community leaders remembered Espinosa as a dedicated officer, mentor and mother whose loss has deeply shaken the Long Island community.
Espinosa, who immigrated to the United States from Ecuador as a young adult, served with the Nassau County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct and was known for her community involvement and commitment to helping others. She previously worked as a corrections officer for four years, totaling 11 years in law enforcement.
Espinosa is survived by her husband, Nassau Police Officer Francisco Malaga and their 2-year-old daughter Mia.
An online fundraiser established for Espinosa’s family has drawn an overwhelming response, raising more than $265,000 from nearly 2,000 contributions.
Smith’s arraignment Friday will mark his first court appearance in the case.
Top: photos courtesy of GoFundMe
