An investigator with the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office is fighting for his life after being thrown from the hood of a moving car while trying to apprehend a suspect in Big Flats Friday night.
On Friday, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police were conducting a joint retail theft operation in Consumer Square, in the Town of Big Flats. At about 6:45 pm, while pursuing a larceny suspect in the Target parking lot, the subject ran towards a getaway vehicle and jumped on the hood with Inv. Mike Theetge in close pursuit tackling him on top of the hood. The driver accelerated the vehicle and then jerked the wheel, causing Inv. Theetge to be thrown from the vehicle hood, falling onto his back while holding the suspect, who landed on top of him, rendering the officer unresponsive. As a result of the driver’s actions, Inv. Theetge sustained a skull fracture and brain bleed. He remains in critical condition at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre. An Officer Down call was radioed at approximately 6:50 pm, which resulted in a multi-agency response.
The larceny suspect was taken into custody immediately. He was identified as Dominick Haley, a black male, age 24, of Ithaca. Haley was charged with two counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Violent Felony, Resisting Arrest, and Petit Larceny, both Class A Misdemeanors. Hakey was arraigned in Big Flats Town Court and remanded to the Chemung County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash / $200,000 property bond.
The driver of the car, 24-year-old Fatiuna Massline, was picked up on Saturday and was also charged with violent felony assault
In a news release, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office stated it would like to thank the many law enforcement agencies that responded to the scene and rendered assistance to Inv. Theetge, as well as the New York State Police in particular, who had agreed to conduct the criminal investigation on our behalf and we will continue to work closely with them in our pursuit to bring all individuals involved in this incident to justice.
