Woman used rock to break into Hewlett school on New Year's Day, police say

An Island Park woman faces multiple charges after she broke into a Hewlett grade school, ran through the hallways and triggered a false fire alarm, Nassau police said Thursday.

Maria Campione, 20, of Franklin Avenue, was taken into custody late Wednesday night after using a rock to break the front door of Hewlett Elementary School on Broadway and enter the building, police said.

Officers responding to a 911 call reporting the 10:20 p.m. burglary saw Campione, and after a brief foot pursuit arrested her, said Officer Eric Evensen, a Nassau police spokesman, in a news release.

A school employee initially spotted Campione on a campus surveillance camera, according to Evensen.

Campione faces charges of third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree falsely reporting an incident, Evensen said.

She was arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead. Judge Gary M. Carlton released Campione but imposed conditions that included a stay away order of protection, a mental health evaluation and a ban on her buying or possessing a firearm of any kind, said Miriam Sholder, a spokeswoman for the Nassau County district attorney's office. Campione's attorney, Adam Neal, could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Evensen did not say whether Campione had a connection to the school. A message left with the school principal’s office was not immediately returned.

With Antonio Planas

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.