A man faces attempted burglary and assault charges after Newark police said he fled from officers investigating an attempted break-in at the vacant IEC building Thursday, leaving one officer with injuries to both hands.
Joseph Palma, 40, was arrested after a brief foot chase near the building at 105 Norton St., according to a release from the Village of Newark Police Department.
Police said a citizen alerted the department to an attempted burglary in progress at approximately 12:37 p.m. Two uniformed officers arrived within one minute and 20 seconds.
The officers saw Palma coming from the side of the building and began speaking with him, according to the release. Police said he then ran, prompting the chase that ended in his apprehension.
One officer injured both hands during the pursuit. The release did not describe the severity of the injuries or say whether the officer required hospital treatment.
Several witnesses provided statements during the investigation. Police said Palma and an unidentified man had arrived at the property and were trying to enter the vacant building, but community members' actions prevented them from getting inside.
Palma was charged with third-degree attempted burglary, second-degree assault, possession of burglar's tools, obstructing governmental administration and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.
The department also stopped another man on the other side of the building. Police said they did not know whether that man was involved in the attempted burglary; he was detained after officers discovered warrants from Rochester and Irondequoit.
Police did not identify that man because he was not charged in this incident. The release did not establish whether he was the unidentified man described in the attempted entry.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Newark-Arcadia Volunteer Ambulance personnel assisted Newark police. Palma was processed at the village police station and then transported to the Wayne County Jail.
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