Alleged grave robber faces added charges

More charges are piling up against Town of Tonawanda resident Robert M. Samson, Jr., this time from Niagara County.

Samson was taken into police custody for the second time in a week at 5 p.m. Friday on a grand larceny warrant out of Niagara County. The warrant was issued after Samson’s alleged connections to the theft of copper vases from town cemeteries appeared to match similar crimes in Niagara County, according to reports.

Police took Samson into custody after his attorney was denied a request to have Samson turn himself in Monday, according to reports.



North Tonawanda

• DRUGS: Eric J. Valery, 26, 364 Tremont St., was arrested early Monday morning and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, growing cannabis by an unlicensed person and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police found him to be in possession of hydrocodone. Valery is being held in lieu of $500 bail.

• DISORDERLY: Richard T. Green, 31, 523 Thompson St., was arrested late Sunday and charged with resisting arrest, two counts of disorderly conduct and breach of peace. Green is being held in lieu of $500 bail.

City of Tonawanda

• WARRANT: Tanya M. Kvidahl, 405 Ward Road, North Tonawanda, surrendered Monday to a warrant issued there. She is charged with third-degree assault from a complaint which occurred in October of 2007. Kvidahl was held for court.

• CONTEMPT: Mark S. Priest, 20, 356 Bryant St., North Tonawanda, was arrested Sunday after apparently having contact with a woman with whom he is barred from communicating as the result of an order of protection. Priest is charged with criminal contempt and unlawful possession of marijuana after police found the drug during his booking. Priest is being held for court.

• WEAPON: Nicholas M. McPhail, 16, 1134 Pierce Ave., North Tonawanda, was arrested Sunday night and charged with criminal possession of a weapon. McPhail was observed carving into a tree near the intersection of Main and Niagara Streets. He was found to be in possession of a “large folding knife,” according to police reports. He was released on an appearance ticket.

• TRESPASSING: Christopher J. Hartke, 17, 505 Adam St., was arrested Sunday evening and charged with trespassing after police found him at Canal Fest despite a court’s order that he is banned from attending the event.

• DRUGS/WEAPON: Thomas M. Danwin, 23, 27 Chatsworth Ave., Kenmore, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a weapon, a switchblade knife, and possession of alcohol in a park. Police observed Danwin drinking beer with two other individuals under the Delaware Street Bridge during Canal Fest. Police searched Danwin and found a bag containing marijuana residue and what reports indicate was a “ceramic pipe.” Danwin is being held in lieu of $250 bail.

• WEAPON: Dante T. Braxton, 17, 193 St. Lawrence Ave., Town of Tonawanda, was arrested Sunday and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of fireworks. Police were tipped off by two City of Tonawanda firefighters, who said the young man was handling the knife on the Main Street bridge. When police arrived, reports state “numerous individuals (were) involved in a verbal confrontation,” including Braxton. He and a juvenile were searched and arrested. An M-80 firecracker was found on the suspect and seized.

• DWI: James W. Metzinger, 51, 317 Vandervoort St., Apt. C, North Tonawanda, was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with driving while intoxicated. Police stopped Metzinger, who was apparently driving north on Delaware Street without headlights and swerving. Tests revealed the suspect’s blood alcohol content to be 0.15 percent.

• WARRANT: Christine Willett, 37, 138 Main St., North Tonawanda, was arrested Saturday night on an existing warrant and charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stem from an incident July 5. Additionally, Willett was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance after police hydrocodone and other pills at the time she was booked.

Town of Tonawanda

• DWI: David C. Honeycutt II was charged with driving while intoxicated at 4:03 a.m. Sunday. Honeycutt was found asleep behind the wheel of his car at an intersection when the officer detected the odor of alcohol, according to reports. Honeycutt allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests and a chemical breath test revealed a 0.10 percent blood alcohol content. Honeycutt was held for court.

• DWI: Daniel P. Hoopengarner was charged with driving while intoxicated at 3:45 a.m. Sunday. Hoopengarner was stopped for running a stop sign when the officer detected the odor of alcohol, according to reports. Hoopengarner allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests and a chemical breath test revealed a 0.15 percent blood alcohol content. Hoopengarner was held for court.

• DWI: Shane M. Monto was charged with driving while intoxicated, speeding and failure to keep right at 3:25 a.m. Sunday. Monto was stopped for speeding when the officer detected the odor of alcohol, according to reports. Monto allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests and refused a chemical breath test. Monto was held for court.

• DWI: Richard L. Caster was charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding at 1:23 a.m. Sunday. Caster was stopped for a window tint violation when the officer detected the odor of alcohol, according to reports. Caster allegedly refused all field sobriety tests. Caster was held for court.

• VANDALISM: John L. Fiorella was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief at 9 p.m. Saturday. Fiorella allegedly broke someone’s tail light with a hammer. Fiorella was held for court.

• LARCENY: Ryan M. Peace was charged with petit larceny at 2:10 a.m. Saturday. Peace allegedly stole a Lunchable snack from a grocery store. Peace was held for court.

Wheatfield

• BURGLARY: A Witmer Road man reported Friday that someone broke into a storage unit he rented at Wheatfield Storage on Niagara Falls Boulevard and stole about 20 purses, an adult Shrek Halloween costume and two struts for a GM vehicle. The items are worth about $550, the report said.

• DRUGS: Jack Leonard Alessandra, 24, 208 Victoria Boulevard, lower, Kenmore, was charged Saturday night with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving with unassigned plates after a traffic stop on Niagara Falls Boulevard. Deputies reportedly found Alessandra was wanted on a warrant out of the Town of Tonawanda and arrested him. During a pat-down search, deputies reportedly found a white and blue pill in his front pants pocket, and Alessandra allegedly admitted it was hydrocodone. He was held in lieu of $200 bail.

• VANDALISM: A Cayuga Drive man reported Sunday that sometime since Friday, someone smashed the windshield of his 2000 Starcraft boat, which was parked in the yard. The damage is estimated at $200.