Bride Of The Year Award August 29, 2003

MANCHESTER -- The bride who was taken away in handcuffs after a tantrum at her wedding reception offered a meek apology in court Thursday for her "disgraceful" behavior. Adrienne Samen, 19, of North Haven, quietly pleaded guilty in Manchester Superior Court to a reduced charge of creating a public disturbance. She was fined $90 and ordered to pay $32 in court costs. In a barely audible voice, Judge Patricia Swords also told Samen she should seek counseling for her anger and alcohol abuse. Swords then warned her about further run-ins with the law. "This behavior does not bode well for the well-being of your marriage," Swords said. "I hope this is an aberration or you'll be back here." Samen was arrested Aug. 16 in South Windsor and charged with breach of peace and criminal mischief. Those charges were dropped Thursday. Cynthia M. Baer, the supervisory assistant state's attorney, declined to say why the charges were reduced. Employees at the Mill on the River Restaurant had called police, saying Samen, who has said she was intoxicated, was throwing cake and vases and yelling obscenities at her new husband. One witness said she threw herself spread-eagle on the hood of a car in the parking lot and then fell off when it pulled away. When police arrived, they found the bride walking along Ellington Road in her wedding dress. When officers tried to question her, Samen made an obscene gesture and cursed them. After Samen refused to cooperate, police arrested her and put her inside a cruiser. Police said the 87-pound, 5-foot-1-inch woman kicked a car window out of its track and tried to bite an officer who attempted to fasten her seat belt. Witnesses told police that Samen "flipped out" when her guests were refused alcohol after the bar at the reception was closed. In court Thursday, Samen was contrite. "My behavior was very disgraceful," she said. "I am sorry for my family, my friends and the people at the Mill on the River." Liz Gioielli, the restaurant's banquet coordinator, said the apology was accepted. "I'm just sorry it had to get to this point," she said. "They have said we didn't honor our contract and threw them out and were rude. We never would have done that." The groom, David Samen, a 21-year-old Marine reservist, said the couple had to cut their honeymoon short because of intense coverage by the media. Adrienne Samen said she didn't want the attention, but has given an interview to MTV celebrity Sharon Osborne, who has a talk show scheduled to begin next month. After her appearance in court, Adrienne Samen apologized to some of the South Windsor officers, but cursed others and accused them of damaging her wedding ring. Sgt. Matthew Reed, a department spokesman, said the department supported the conduct of its officers. "The tape clearly shows her throwing her wedding ring across the booking room. It was bent at the time we seized it," Reed said. Police released a videotape Thursday of Samen's booking and her time in the town lockup. Reed said Samen continued to curse officers after her arrest and used a racial epithet against another prisoner. Reed also said Samen told them her father killed a police officer. Thomas Hoyesen - Samen's maiden name is Hoyesen - was convicted of murdering a Milford police officer during a traffic stop in 1987 and is serving a life sentence in prison. Adrienne Samen has three other criminal cases pending in Superior Court in Meriden. Hamden and North Haven police have arrested her on forgery and larceny charges. She is scheduled to appear on those charges Sept. 4.