LIBERTY, NY — On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the Village of Liberty Police Department arrested Marion Black, 21, of Liberty, twice within approximately four hours following a domestic violence incident and his subsequent violation of a court-issued order of protection.

At approximately 5 p.m., Liberty Police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a dispute in a municipal parking lot in the Village of Liberty. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed Black actively punching a female victim with whom he was involved in an intimate partner relationship. Officers immediately intervened and attempted to place Black under arrest.

Black actively resisted the officers’ attempts to take him into custody, requiring officers to use physical force to overcome his resistance. During the struggle, Black sustained a laceration to his forehead. Liberty Police immediately summoned emergency medical services, and Black was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center—Catskills, where he was evaluated, treated and released.

Black was charged with Assault in the 3rd Degree and Resisting Arrest, both misdemeanors. He was subsequently arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court before the Honorable Judge Shortall. Consistent with New York State Bail reform laws, Black was released on his own recognizance; Judge Shortall issued a full stay-away order of protection directing Black to stay away from the victim, her residence and her place of employment.

Based on their observations of Black during the initial incident and their experience investigating domestic violence cases, the arresting officers believed there was a significant possibility that Black would attempt to return to the victim despite the newly issued order of protection. Rather than ending their involvement following the arraignment, officers proactively maintained surveillance of Black after he left the courthouse.

Officers observed Black loiter near several businesses on Main Street before eventually proceeding directly toward the victim’s residence. Officers, who had continued to discreetly monitor his movements, intercepted Black before he was able to access the victim’s residence or make contact with the victim. 

Black was taken into custody for the second time and charged with Criminal Contempt in the 2nd Degree, pursuant to New York State Penal Law § 215.50(3), a class A misdemeanor, for intentionally disobeying the order of protection that had been issued less than 10 minutes earlier.

Black was immediately returned to the Town of Liberty Court and again arraigned before Judge Shortall. At the second arraignment, bail was set at $10,000 cash, $25,000 bond or $50,000 secured bond, and Black was remanded to the Sullivan County Jail.

Chief of Police Steven D’Agata stated:

“This incident is an excellent example of proactive policing and officers trusting their instincts. These officers could have completed the first arrest, brought the defendant to court and considered their job finished. Instead, based on what they had witnessed and their experience investigating domestic violence, they believed there was a real possibility that this defendant would immediately attempt to return to the victim. They acted on that concern, maintained surveillance and were in a position to intervene before he could reach her. Their actions may very well have prevented this victim from being assaulted again.

“It is also difficult to ignore the circumstances under which this occurred. Officers personally witnessed this defendant punching his intimate partner, had to physically overcome his resistance to take him into custody, and within minutes of a judge ordering him to stay away from the victim, he allegedly went directly back toward her residence. Under New York’s current bail laws, the charges from the initial incident did not permit the court to set monetary bail. It was only after he allegedly violated the newly issued order of protection that the court had additional authority to set bail. That sequence should concern anyone who is serious about protecting victims of domestic violence. In this instance, the laws of New York State, and the State government that enacted them, failed this victim. Thankfully the Liberty Police Department did not. 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and unfortunately this incident illustrates why that awareness remains so important. Domestic violence is rarely a single isolated act. Victims can face repeated attempts at unwanted contact, intimidation and violence, sometimes immediately after police and the courts have intervened. Our officers understand that reality, and in this case they went beyond simply making an arrest. They remained focused on the safety of the victim and took proactive steps to protect her. 

The Village of Liberty Police Department will continue to utilize all of its resources to hold offenders accountable and protect victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, under current New York law, an individual can violently punch an intimate partner multiple times in front of police officers, physically resist arrest, and still be released following arraignment because the charges themselves are not bail qualifying offenses. That is exactly what happened here, and it demonstrates a serious gap between the realities of domestic violence, and the tools available to protect victims at the earliest stages of a case.”

Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law, and as such they are not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a presumption of innocence and are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the burden of the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.