LIBERTY, NY — On Saturday, March 18, the Village of Liberty Police Department and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office executed a search warrant at a room of the Liberty Motel located on South Main Street in Liberty. The search warrant was the result of an ongoing narcotics investigation by Liberty PD and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office into the distribution of the dangerous opioid fentanyl.

During the first few weeks of January 2023, the Village of Liberty Police Department responded to a series of non-fatal overdose incidents. Several of these incidents involved individuals being saved with Naloxone either administered by officers or bystanders. As a result of these incidents, multiple separate narcotics investigations were launched in an effort to determine the source of the dangerous drugs. As part of an ongoing investigation, a search warrant was applied for and granted to search a room at the Liberty Motel.

On  Saturday, March 18, at approximately 2 p.m. Liberty Police officers and investigators with the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office executed a search warrant and arrested the occupant, Gerrod Prater. 

During his arrest, Prater ran from officers, threw a clear plastic bag containing fentanyl and physically resisted being taken into custody. A search of the room resulted in securing approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, 30 grams of crack cocaine, scales and narcotic packaging material. Prater was charged with four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, attempted sale of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, and other charges. Prater was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court by the Honorable Judge Johnstone and in accordance with New York State bail reform laws, Prater was released on his own recognizance. 

Village of Liberty Chief of Police Steven D’Agata stated, “The Liberty Police Department will continue to use all available resources to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic. For those suffering from substance use disorder, we will continue to offer pathways to treatment through our partnership with Hope Not Handcuffs. Those individuals, however, that are merely profiting off of the pain, suffering and death of our community members by distributing dangerous opioids like fentanyl will be actively investigated, arrested and prosecuted. If you insist on selling drugs that cause people to overdose in the Village of Liberty, you will have the full resources of my department and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office ensuring that you are held accountable for your actions.”