Published: July 16, 2008 11:31 pm            

CANAL FEST: Most arrests are on Tonawanda side

With the rides on the City of Tonawanda side, there’s a lot more activity keeping city police busy than on the North Tonawanda side during Canal Fest. Through Wednesday afternoon, Tonawanda police recorded 34 arrests during Canal Fest, compared to none for North Tonawanda.

Police attribute the increased illegal activity to the groups of kids who congregate along the midway, which sits on the Erie County side of the event. “The rides are the magnet,” said Lt. Fredric Foels. “I can remember when Canal Fest first started and we were thinking which would be worse, a beer tent or the rides.”

One of the more bizarre incidents took place overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, during which police were forced to use a Taser gun on an uncooperative Town of Tonawanda teen.

After being released on an appearance ticket for allegedly punching someone in the face Tuesday night at the festival, Evan M. Kotzin, 19, of 107 Broadmoor Drive, was creating a scene outside of the Tonawanda Police Station on Niagara Street.

According to police reports, Kotzin was yelling that his back was broken, took an obvious dive to the ground and refused to get up, forcing police to pick him up and carry him back into the police station. He continued to be uncooperative, and three officers had to then carry him into a holding cell.

As the last officer was exiting the cell, Kotzin allegedly charged the officer and raised both his fists. The officer pushed Kotzin back into the cell, but he charged the officer a second time.

Police cornered him into the back of the cell to get him under control, but Kotzin continued kicking and flailing his arms, trying to throw punches, according to police reports. Officers also delivered several palm strikes to Kotzin’s head in an attempt to get him under control, but those were ineffective.

Another officer then stepped in and applied one application of the Taser to the side of Kotzin’s neck, which subdued him long enough for police to get him to the cell bench.

Kotzin was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and obstructing governmental administration and was held for court.

        

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