LIBERTY – In the early morning hours of May 7, two teens from New York City stole a vehicle from a parking lot on South Main Street in the Village of Liberty and attempted to rob two gas stations before being apprehended by police.

According to the Village of Liberty Police Department, Jayvion Thompson and Sadiq Daugherty, both 18 and both being identified as from New York City, were charged with attempted burglary, criminal mischief and grand larceny.

Additionally, Thompson escaped from the processing room at the police station by forcing his hands out of handcuffs and attacking an officer. He then fled on foot leading to a multi-agency manhunt in Liberty, where he was found in an abandoned apartment about an hour later and was taken in without incident, police said. 

Conducted by the Village of Liberty Police Department and the Town of Fallsburg Police Department, the investigation revealed that at approximately 1 a.m. Thompson and Daugherty, wearing masks, allegedly stole a vehicle from a parking lot on South Main Street in the Village of Liberty and drove the stolen vehicle to the Sunoco Country Store on Sullivan Avenue in the Village of Liberty. 

They attempted to force entry through a glass door, but were unsuccessful in gaining entry. 

The duo then drove to the Mobile gas station in Loch Sheldrake where they broke a glass door, entering the store and allegedly stealing items including a cash register. 

At approximately 1 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 Liberty 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, Thompson, 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 Health Medical Center - Catskills 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 Daugherty 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, according to police. 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. 

A search began with The Village of Liberty Police Department 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. 

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

D’Agata said the incident “likely alarmed many community members,” adding, “I take full personal responsibility for this lapse. While it is the defendant’s 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.”

Both teens were arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court by the Honorable Judge Shortall and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of bail as recommended by District Attorney Brian Conaty.