Canandaigua Man Arrested for False Report in Hopewell

A Canandaigua man was arrested on Tuesday after law enforcement determined he had falsely reported an incident involving an armed suspect.

A Canandaigua man was arrested on Tuesday after law enforcement determined he had falsely reported an incident involving an armed suspect.

According to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, 39-year-old Robert Merkley was taken into custody on February 25, 2025 at approximately 1:16 p.m. near the intersection of County Road 46 and Smith Road in the Town of Hopewell. Authorities say the arrest followed an investigation into Merkley’s claim that he was being followed by an individual armed with a gun.

After a full review, investigators concluded that the reported incident had not occurred. Merkley was charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor under New York law.

Following his arrest, Merkley was transported to the Ontario County Jail for arraignment. He was later released and is scheduled to appear in Hopewell Town Court at a later date.

Officials have not released further details regarding the circumstances of the false report.