Shocking Celebrity Arrests in Western New York: From Tim McGraw to Kodak Black!
You might be surprised to learn that a few well-known celebrities have found themselves in legal trouble right here in Buffalo and Western New York. These famous faces spent some time behind bars in our local jails. Here’s a look at some memorable arrests involving celebrities in the area.
In one of the more unusual incidents, country music stars Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney were arrested in Buffalo on June 3, 2000. They were in town for the George Strait Country Music Festival when Chesney decided to mount an Erie County Sheriff’s Deputy’s horse and take a joyride.
McGraw and his manager then reportedly attacked the deputies who tried to stop Chesney. Despite the bizarre situation, the three men were ultimately found not guilty.
Rapper Kodak Black, whose real name is Bill Kapri, made headlines on April 17, 2019, when he was arrested at the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge. Kodak Black was trying to re-enter the U.S. from Canada when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers detained him and three companions.
They were found with weapons and marijuana. Kodak was driving a Cadillac Escalade with a temporary California registration, and his friends were in a Porsche. Inside the Escalade, agents discovered an undeclared pistol, while two loaded handguns were found in the Porsche. Additionally, there was weed and a third gun in the Porsche’s trunk.
Another notable arrest involved a former Buffalo Bills player. On April 4, 2022, defensive end Alex Carrington was pulled over by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office in Lewiston.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. Carrington was tasered and removed from his car after he refused a breathalyzer test and attempted to restart his vehicle. Deputies discovered a loaded Glock 17 handgun and high-capacity magazines inside Carrington’s car.
Back in 1976, rock legend David Bowie was arrested in Rochester. Bowie, along with Iggy Pop, was taken into custody at a downtown hotel on charges of marijuana possession after performing at the Community War Memorial. Although a grand jury declined to indict him in May 1976, Bowie never returned to Rochester for another performance.
On August 9, 2009, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was arrested in Buffalo. Known for being the NHL’s best rookie in 2008, Kane faced robbery charges after an altercation with a cab driver.
Kane and his cousin, James Kane, were upset when the cab driver couldn’t provide 20 cents in change. The driver reported being punched by both men. Both Kanes were charged with felony robbery, along with misdemeanor counts of theft of services and criminal mischief.