Cops: Westhampton Beach man made threatening call to police
Westhampton Beach Village Hall, which houses the police department. Credit: Erin Geismar
A Westhampton Beach man faces a charge of making a terroristic threat in connection with phone calls he placed to police, authorities said.
David Krouse, 63, called Southampton Town police about 3 p.m. Wednesday — though he'd intended to call Westhampton Beach police — and threatened violence against the department.
Southampton police notified their Westhampton Beach counterparts, who then evacuated Village Hall and the police department, officials said.
Westhampton Beach police arrested Krouse Wednesday afternoon and he was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Westhampton Beach Village Justice Court, authorities said. Updated information about Krouse's arraignment and his attorney were not immediately available Thursday night.
On Jan. 18, Krouse was charged with disorderly conduct and fighting with violent behavior, according to court records. He was given an appearance ticket in that case for Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip, released without bail, and ordered to return March 9.
He was represented by Legal Aid in that case.
In a separate case unrelated to Krouse, Suffolk and Southampton police are investigating an incident involving anti-police graffiti. Police are trying to locate anyone responsible for graffiti targeting Westhampton Beach police with messages like "Cops will B shot" and "Shoot cops 4 fun," according to Suffolk police.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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