On Monday December 26th, 2011 Village of Liberty Police arrested Gerson “Loco” Diodonet 31 and Maria Diodonet 36, husband and wife, both of Monticello. Village police were called by employees of the Sears store after they watched Gerson Diodonet stuff over $400 worth cordless drills, sanders, battery charges and hand tools in his jacket and pants.

After being confronted by store employees Gerson Diodonet fled the store leaving some of the merchandise behind. Gerson Diodonet fled in a vehicle driven by his wife, Maria, away from the scene and was stopped moments later by a Village of Liberty officer who was in the area.

Upon the vehicle being stopped Gerson Diodonet aggressively exited the vehicle and confronted the officer with the stolen property in his hand tossing a stolen cordless drill in the direction of the officer on the trunk of his car. Gerson Diodonet then became confrontational with the officer, and resisted arrest.

Village of Liberty Police were assisted in arresting the two individuals by the New York State Police and off duty officers from both the Village of Liberty Police and the Town of Fallsburg police. Further search of the vehicle resulted in finding both additional stolen property and illegal prescription pills.

Gerson Diodonet was charged with attempted petit larceny, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property in the 5th degree, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree all misdemeanors. Maria Diodonet was charged with petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property in the 5th degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree, misdemeanors.

Both defendants were arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court and Gerson Diodonet was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $1,250 bail and Maria Diodonet was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.