Menacing Arrest

Seneca County Sheriff W. Timothy Luce reports on November 14, 2022, at about 10:56am, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Village of Ovid for the report of a male that had been making threats of self-harm and possibly armed. Upon arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies, the male had fled the residence and was believed to be on foot in the Village of Ovid. Due to the male’s erratic behavior, threats, and close proximity to the school, Sheriff’s Deputies coordinated with officials from the South Seneca Central Schools and made a request to have the school placed in lockdown. Sheriff’s Deputies also alerted downtown businesses and conducted a search for the male. A short time later, the male was located behind a business and the male exited a wooded area and immediately threated to kill a Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Sergeant while swinging a piece of lumber towards the officer. The male suspect then fled the scene on foot and ultimately ran into moving traffic on Route 96 in the Town of Ovid. The male was taken into custody after the brief foot pursuit. The male was identified as Hernes Valencia-Arboleda, age 25, of 7188 Main Street, Ovid New York. He was charged with Menacing in the Second Degree and was released on an appearance ticket to appear in the Ovid Town Court at a later date.
The New York State Park Police and New York State Police also assisted at the scene.