A Seneca Falls man has been arrested three times in a matter of weeks, most recently after an alleged incident inside the Seneca County Correctional Facility, authorities said.
Seneca County sheriff’s investigators arrested Mekhi L. Russ, 24, around 2:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, while he was already incarcerated at the jail, according to Sheriff Timothy Thompson. Investigators charged Russ with fourth-degree criminal mischief after he allegedly broke a phone inside the facility.
Russ was arraigned through Centralized Arraignment Court and is scheduled to appear in Town of Romulus Court at a later date.
The jail arrest follows two prior arrests tied to incidents in Seneca Falls in late December.
On Dec. 31, Seneca Falls police arrested Russ around 7:22 a.m. following a harassment investigation that began earlier that morning. Investigators said the case involved alleged threats posted on social media referencing harm toward people attending the village’s annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Police also said Russ allegedly attempted to intimidate a witness connected to a separate, ongoing criminal matter.
In that case, police charged Russ with intimidating a victim or witness in the third degree and making a terroristic threat. He was taken into custody without incident and held at the Seneca County Correctional Facility pending arraignment. Police said at the time there was no credible threat to public safety related to the New Year’s Eve event, but officers would continue monitoring the situation and maintain a visible police presence.
The Dec. 31 arrest came just days after Russ was charged in connection with a burglary at Fall Street Brewing Company in downtown Seneca Falls.
Police arrested Russ around 2 p.m. on Dec. 23 after investigators said someone unlawfully entered the brewery during the early morning hours following the “It’s a Wonderful Life” weekend celebration and stole several items. Russ faces charges of third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief, both Class D felonies, as well as fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of burglar’s tools.
Authorities have asked anyone with information related to the Seneca Falls cases to contact the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department.
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