Four men have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery on South Main Street in the Village of Liberty, police said.
Officers responded to the area around 8:40 p.m. on Feb. 13 after a 911 caller reported a robbery involving a firearm. When police arrived, they found three people who initially described themselves as victims.
Investigators say two masked men approached the group while they were sitting inside a vehicle, pointed a black handgun at them and took more than $3,000 worth of jewelry. The suspects then ran toward Church Street, according to police.
Authorities launched what they described as an extensive investigation that continued into the following day.
On Feb. 14, officers took Francisco Gonzalez, 18, of Liberty, into custody at the Liberty Police Department. Police say Gonzalez first reported himself as a victim but later determined he had conspired with the other suspects to help carry out the robbery.
Later that evening, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. Two more suspects — Manuel Gonzalez-Ramirez, 25, and Rafael Cleto-Morales, 24, both of Liberty — were arrested without incident, police said.
A fourth suspect, Albert Toribio-Novas, 22, of Liberty, was arrested later that night on Champlin Avenue. Investigators allege he acted as the getaway driver.
During the investigation, officers recovered a loaded .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol believed to have been used in the robbery.
All four men are charged with first-degree robbery, a Class B felony; second-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm, a Class C felony; and third-degree grand larceny, a Class D felony. Francisco Gonzalez also faces a misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident.
In a statement, Liberty Police Chief Steve D’Agata praised the officers and detectives who worked the case.
“This case was solved quickly due to a combination of old-fashioned detective work and leveraging advanced technology, including newly installed Main Street surveillance cameras,” D’Agata said. He added that falsely portraying oneself as a victim “detracts from the legitimacy of individuals who are truly seeking justice and protection.”
The Village of Liberty Police Department was assisted by the New York State Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office.
Image Credit: Village of Liberty Police Department