FALLSBURG — On May 7, 2026 the Village of Liberty Police Department and the Town of Fallsburg Police Department began a joint investigation into a series of crimes that had occurred in the early morning hours on May 7, 2026. The investigation revealed that at approximately 1:00 a.m. two masked men had stolen a vehicle from a parking lot on South Main Street in the Village of Liberty. Those individuals then drove the stolen vehicle to the Sunoco Country Store on Sullivan Avenue in the Village of Liberty.

At that location they attempted to burglarize the store by attempting to force entry through a glass door. They caused significant damage to the door but were unsuccessful in gaining entry. The duo then drove to the Mobile gas station in Loch Sheldrake where they were successful in breaking a glass door, entering the store and stealing items including a cash register. Officers and detectives from the Village of Liberty and Town of Fallsburg conducted a coordinated investigation in an attempt to identify the two masked individuals.

As a result of that investigation, at approximately 1:00 p.m. Sgt. Chris Orlando of the Village of Liberty Police Department observed an individual on North Main Street matching the description of one of the suspects. Sgt. Orlando and other LPD officers attempted to contact the individual who, upon being approached, fled on foot. Officers engaged in a lengthy foot pursuit that terminated behind North Main Street with the suspect, Jayvion Thompson, 18, of New York City, being taken into custody.

During the foot pursuit and altercation with the suspect, Sgt. Everett Saul of the Village of Liberty Police Department sustained a significant laceration and blunt force trauma to his right knee. Sgt. Saul was transported by police vehicle to Garnet Catskill where he was treated for his injury and released.

Further investigation resulted in members of the Village of Liberty Police Department and Town of Fallsburg Police Department, assisted by Investigators with the New York State Police, locating the second individual at an apartment on South Main Street. At that location officers took Sadiq Daugherty, 18, of New York City into custody without incident. A search of the apartment resulted in finding further evidence of the crimes including proceeds of the burglary.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., while in custody at the Village of Liberty Police Department, Thompson, while being held in a prisoner processing room, escaped from the police department. Thompson was able to manually force his hands through a set of handcuffs. When a police officer was exiting the processing area through a secure door to enter an adjoining room, Thompson attacked and briefly overpowered the officer and fled through the open door.

As Thompson fled on foot, officers from the department engaged in a foot pursuit and ultimately lost sight of him in the North Main Street/Chestnut Street area. At that time, with the coordination of multiple law enforcement agencies, a perimeter was established and a methodical search for the suspect began. The Village of Liberty Police Department was assisted by the New York State Police, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office,  Sullivan County Division of Public Safety, Sullivan County District Attorney's Office, Town of Fallsburg Police Department, and New York State Forest Rangers. As a result of the coordinated effort, at approximately 4:40 p.m. Thompson was located hiding in a closet of an abandoned apartment on Chestnut Street. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Thompson and Daugherty were both charged with attempted burglary in the 3rd degree, criminal mischief in the 3rd degree, and grand larceny in the 3rd degree, all felonies, by the Village of Liberty Police Department. They were both additionally charged with burglary in the 3rd degree, criminal mischief in the 2nd degree, and grand larceny in the 4th degree by the Town of Fallsburg Police Department.

Thompson was additionally charged with assault in the 2nd degree and escape in the 2nd degree, felonies, and obstructing governmental administration in the 2nd degree and resisting arrest, misdemeanors, by the Village of Liberty Police Department.

Thompson was additionally wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision on a parole absconder warrant.

Both men were arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court by the Honorable Judge Shortall. District Attorney Brian Conaty personally appeared at the arraignment of both men. During the arraignment, DA Conaty outlined the extreme flight risk posed by both individuals and recommended both men be remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of 1 million dollars cash, 2 million dollars secured bond, or 4 million dollars partially secured bond. Judge Shortall remanded both men to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of bail as recommended by the District Attorney.

Chief of Police Steven D'Agata stated, "I want to thank the Town of Fallsburg Police Department,  the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police and all assisting agencies for all of their hard work on this case. I would also like to thank DA Conaty and his attorneys and investigators for providing the resources commensurate with the level of criminal activity alleged by these charges. Both of these defendants acted with complete disregard for the safety and property of this community. These two individuals came from outside of this community to destroy property, steal and act in a manner that resulted in a police officer suffering a substantial injury. During this incident one defendant was able to escape from our custody and the ensuing significant police response likely alarmed many community members. I take full personal responsibility for this lapse. While it is the defendants criminal conduct that resulted in his escape, we will be conducting a thorough review of the incident, our procedures, training and policy to identify and address deficiencies.” 

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.