City man arrested twice in three days on trespass, contempt charges

Nathan Merchant (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester man arrested twice in three days faces charges of criminal mischief and contempt, a Class A misdemeanor that could land him in county jail for up to a year.

His escalating interactions with police began on Tuesday around 3:40 a.m. when a Rochester patrol officer responded to a call of a male pounding on doors of a private residence on Common Street. Officers made contact with Nathan Merchant, 41, of 105 Whitehouse Road, who was moved along.

"Shortly after he began walking down the middle of Common Street as opposed to using the sidewalk," Rochester Police Public Information Officer Andrew Swanberry said today.

Merchant was charged with pedestrian on roadway, a violation level offense, and given an arraignment date next month.

Police had contact with Merchant again on Thursday around 12:15 p.m. when they were called to Kentucky Fried Chicken on Columbus Avenue for a report of a male near the dumpster, who appeared to be under the influence influence, causing some sort of disruption, according to Swanberry.

Police identified the man as Merchant, who had previously been served with a trespass notification, prohibiting him from being on that property.

Merchant was charged with criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor. He was also found to be on bail from a separate incident and was also charged with contempt, a Class A misdemeanor, for violating bail conditions that typically include remaining of good behavior, not committing any additional crimes while on release, and no excessive use of alcohol or drugs and/or any use of alcohol or drugs, Swanberry noted.