In a striking turn of events, Fatiuna Massaline, a 24-year-old from Ithaca was arrested on Saturday after being involved in an assault on a Chemung County Sheriff’s Investigator. This incident, which occurred during a retail theft operation at a Target store in Big Flats was originally described as a hit-and-run, but led to Massaline being charged with assault on a police officer and reckless endangerment. Following her arrest in Ithaca, she was processed and then held on a significant bail amount pending further court proceedings.
The incident unfolded on the evening of March 29, when police, alongside Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and Target loss prevention personnel, were conducting a theft detail. A suspect attempted to steal a TV and other items, resulting in a chase that severely injured Investigator Theetge from the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, along with a minor injury to a State Police investigator. The suspects attempted escape in a black Chevy Impala led to a high-speed departure from the scene, leaving Theetge with a critical head injury.
Dominick J. Haley, another suspect involved and also from Ithaca, was apprehended and faces multiple charges including assault on a police officer His arrest and the subsequent capture of Massaline were the results of a collaborative effort between New York State Police, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ithaca Police Department. The authorities are continuing their investigation into this bold attack that has left a law enforcement officer in critical condition.
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