The Chemung County Sheriff’s Office investigator who was thrown from the hood of a moving car while attempting to apprehend a larceny suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Mike Theetge was working a joint retail operation with State Police at Consumer Square in Big Flats last Friday night when a suspect in a larceny took off running after attempting to steal a television from Target. When in the parking lot, 24-year-old Dominick Haley ran towards a getaway car and jumped on its roof. Investigator Theetge did the same as the driver of the car took off at a high rate of speed, throwing both men off of the car. Investigator Theetge suffered a fractured skull and was airlifted to Robert Guthrie Hospital in Sayre, where he remains.
Haley was apprehended in the Target parking lot and was arrested on two counts of assault as a violent felony. The driver of the car was caught the next day and was also charged with a violent felony. Haley and Fatiuna Massaline are both from Ithaca and are both jailed in Chemung County.
In a statement, Sheriff William Schrom said, “We can’t thank everyone enough for the outpouring of support for Mike, his family, and all of us in the law enforcement community. We appreciate your patience and understanding with this issue.”
