Tonawanda police arrested two people on Saturday in separate incidents at the Tonawanda Canal Festival, Lt. Fredric Foels reported.
In the first, around 3 a.m. Saturday, a North Tonawanda man was charged with DUI after driving through the middle area of Canal Fest. Mark R. Nazca, 35, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and disobeying traffic control devices.
Police stationed in the area for night patrols stopped a vehicle that destroyed a fence as it traveled through the festival area trying to cross the Renaissance Bridge from North Tonawanda into Tonawanda City. Nazca underwent a breathalyzer test and had a blood alcohol level of 0.17, more than double the legal limit of 0.08.
In the second incident, three police officers suffered minor injuries after a fight broke out around 7:30 p.m. Saturday while overpowering a suspect behind the festival’s mid-ride “New York, New York.”
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Devante D. Henry, 30, of Buffalo, was charged with resisting arrest, attempting to assault a police officer, and harassing a police officer. Mr. Henry got into an argument with the ride operator, “which turned into a fight behind the ride,” Folds said.
Officers Leah Statura and Brett Rogers suffered knee injuries, and Foles suffered a cut on his forearm. All were treated by Canalfest paramedics and continued to serve the event.
