Buffalo man arrested for spoiling mayor’s photo-op

It was supposed to be a routine show for the press at the corner of Hoyt and Potomac on Monday afternoon, as Mayor Byron Brown arrived with police and entourage to announce the installation of surveillance cameras at the crime-plagued location.

Most neighbors were glad to see some attention being paid to the problem. But according to a police report filed Monday evening, one man—whose name we’re withholding out of both courtesy and fear—took the opportunity to express his displeasure with Brown by creating:

A PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE, ANNOYANCE AND ALARM BY MAKING UNREASONABLE NOISE, BY FIGHTING, DISPLAYING THREATENING BEHAVIOR, BY USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE IN THAT THE DEFENDANT DID INTENTIONALLY CAUSE A PUBLIC ANNOYANCE BY VERBALLY THREATENED (sic) CITY OF BUFFALO MAYOR BYRON BROWN AND THE DEFENDANT DID CONTINUALLY YELL PROFANITIES IN LOUD MANNER AND THE DEFENDANT DID KICK OFFICER JOSEPH DONOVAN IN THE INNER LEFT ARM AS OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO PLACE DEFENDANT IN THE PATROL VEHICLE AFTER PLACING THE DEFENDANT UNDER ARREST FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT. CAUSING A PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE, ANNOYANCE AND ALARM.

A WKBW-TV news photographer happened to capture the event. Which is ironic, considering the nature of the mayor’s announcement about the surveillance cameras.

According to Buffalo Police Department spokesperson Mike DeGeorge, the man was charged with obstructing governmental administration, harassment in the second degree, and a number of counts of disorderly conduct. He spent the night in the Erie County Holding Center, and appeared before Judge David Manz in city court on Tuesday, where he was issued a court date of July 15. His bond was set at $3,500.

This being an election year, we can expect many more public appearances by the mayor this summer—cutting ribbons, digging with golden shovels, kissing babies, and so on—but remember the limits of free speech. Don’t swear your freaking head off at the top of your lungs in the direction of the mayor. If you just can’t control yourself and wind up letting a few choice syllables fly, don’t be surprised when the cops come up to you and tell you to tone it down. That, just so you know, will be your last chance.

This summer, be smart and be safe. Don’t screw up any of the mayor’s speeches.

—buck quigley