Skip to main content

Law and Order: Woman accused of possessing illegal weapon

By Howard B. Owens

Rhiannon J. Graff, 16 Oak St., Room #7, Batavia, 31, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Graff was reportedly found by Batavia PD at 9:30 a.m., Sept. 17, in possession of a metal, collapsible baton. NYS Parole assisted in the case. Graff was jailed on $5,000 bail.

William J. Galliford, 51, of 200 State St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and resisting arrest. Galliford was arrested after allegedly harassing a neighbor on repeated occasions. Galliford allegedly struggled with the arresting officer, James M. DeFreze. Galliford was jailed on $500 bail.

G.L. Montgomery

Regarding the report on Ms. Graff: B.P.D. Officers may have been in error in assessing this situation? The "metal, collapsible baton" is in fact not a weapon but what is known as a "Monopod" or a "trekking pole", used to steady a camera for outdoor photography or the latter which is simply a hiking pole. It is not "spring loaded" or even self-locking. There was never any intent to use this as a weapon as it was lying in her room probably used to prop the window open on a hot day?
Hopefully the complainant will realize his error in judgement and step up to do the right thing? Being accused of a felony and locked away is pretty bad, to say the least.
When that should happen due to someone else making the mistakes it's Really wrong and shameful.

Oct 13, 2011, 7:42am Permalink

Authentically Local