WHEATFIELD, NY — A North Tonawanda woman was arrested on drunken driving charges after deputies found a young child unsecured in her vehicle, according to Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti.
Vanessa Scarfone, 49, of North Tonawanda, was charged with driving while ability impaired by narcotics, aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law, endangering the welfare of a child and failure to signal.
Deputies observed Scarfone operating a 2025 Jeep on Niagara Falls Boulevard on May 1, 2026, after receiving a civilian complaint that the vehicle was traveling with an unsecured young child passenger.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop for the complaint and for failure to signal a lane change, and the vehicle pulled into a private parking lot near the intersection of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Ward Road.
During the interview, Scarfone showed signs of impairment, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies confirmed a 3-year-old girl in the vehicle was not restrained in an appropriate child seat.
Scarfone was arrested following field sobriety testing.
The child was placed in the care of a family member who responded to the scene.
Scarfone was remanded to the Niagara County Correctional Facility pending arraignment in Niagara County Central Arraignment Part Court.
