Ring, run — and gun in Rockville Centre

Nassau County police arrested Bernadette Greenwald of North Forest Avenue on Sunday after she allegedly pointed a gun at a teenager she thought had been ringing her doorbell and running away.

According to police, the 47-year-old attorney was in her home around 11 p.m. when someone reportedly rang the doorbell and ran away three times. After the third time, Greenwald allegedly got a licensed 9-millimeter gun and fired one round from it in front of her house. Police said that a short time later, when the 17-year-old walked in front of the house, Greenwald pointed the weapon at him and held him until police arrived. After an investigation, Greenwald was arrested. No injuries were reported.

In a statement to the Herald, Mitchell Barnett, Greenwald’s attorney, wrote: “I have been told the police have released a statement to the press portraying Bernadette as an out-of-control woman who could not handle a prank by some kids. My client and I take exception to the information released by the police.

“Bernadette and her husband have lived in the community for quite some time and your paper has done articles on the both of them. Bernadette is an attorney for over 20 years and is very active in the community. Her husband, Stu, is a retired Air Force Colonel, currently working as an airline pilot. On the day and time of the incident, Bernadette and her children were home and the children were sleeping.

Barnett went on, “You have a woman, home alone with her two children. Her husband is a pilot who is expected home at some time that night. She is aware of prior occasions of people on her property for reasons unknown. It is 11-11:30 p.m. and someone decides to ring your bell and leave after ringing the bell. This happens more than once. Fearing for her safety and that of her children, she arms and protects herself and the next thing she knows, she is confronted with someone at her front door. While holding him there and her children now awaken[ed] by this confrontation, her husband arrives home, grabs the individual and the police soon arrived.”

Greenwald was charged with menacing, reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a dangerous weapon. She was arraigned on Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.