Cops: Carle Place Man Harassed Trooper’s Mom

A Carle Place man was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly harassing a New York State Trooper’s family member on Tuesday.

Lawrence Demaio

Lawrence Demaio, 54, called the mother of a Trooper who works out of the Valley Stream Barracks, asked her if she was related to a New York State Trooper named Cardus, and when she said that she was, she then asked who she was speaking with, police said. Demaio told the woman that Trooper Cardus was involved in a serious car crash and was at Mercy Hospital, but when she questioned Demaio further, he hung up the phone, police said.

Investigators traced the cell phone number at Demaio and phone records indicated that he had contacted the Trooper’s mother and that he also tried calling her old phone number just prior to the call she received from Demaio, police said.

Demaio had received a speeding ticket from Trooper Cardus about a month before he made the phone call, police said. He was charged with aggravated harassment.