Woman Arrested for Reporting a False Emergency to Get out of Traffic Infraction, SCPD Says
Commack, NY - November 1, 2017 - Suffolk County Police have arrested a woman who called 911 to falsely report seeing two men with guns in an effort to avoid receiving traffic summonses in Commack, New York. This is the second time in a week during which a person made a 911 call to report a false emergency.
A Second Precinct police officer pulled over Marie Toussaint on October 23, 2017 at approximately 11:18 a.m. on Jericho Turnpike, near Larkfield Road, in Commack after he observed her driving a 2011 Toyota Highlander that did not have valid registration plates. When the officer returned to his vehicle to write Toussaint summonses, Toussaint called 911 and falsely reported two men with guns running down the street in the vicinity of the traffic stop.
The fraudulent call elicited a large police response from Second and Fourth Precincts officers. The officer that stopped Toussaint also responded to the call, releasing her without writing any summonses. After a thorough search of the area, the call was determined to be unfounded. Further investigation revealed that Toussaint made the call from her vehicle after being stopped by the Second Precinct police officer.
Toussaint, 40, of Commack, surrendered at the Second Precinct on October 31 at approximately 4:50 p.m. Second Precinct Crime Section officers arrested Toussaint and she was charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident 3rd Degree and Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd Degree. She will also receive four summonses for the original traffic infractions. She was released on bail and will be arraigned at First District Court on January 11, 2018.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.