Nassau Woman Contaminated Meat At Plant Where She Worked: Police

HICKSVILLE, NY — A Nassau woman was arrested after police say she deliberately contaminated a batch of meat at a processing plant in Hicksville.

According to police, Karen Palacios Gutierrez, 38, of Hempstead, was working as a meat packer for the Ava Company, located at 383 West John St. in Hicksville. On Aug. 25, police say Gutierrez took a coin from her pocket and put it in a package of meat that was set to go out to retail.

When the coin was found, the whole bin of meat the package was in had to be discarded.

Gutierrez was arrested at the facility on Aug. 26.

She is charged with third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree tampering with consumer product and second-degree criminal nuisance. She was arraigned on Aug. 27 in First District court in Hempstead, where she was ordered held on bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, which was not posted.