Crime & Safety

K-9 Tracks Down Teen Wanted for Burglary, Cops Say

19-year-old attempted to flee when officers came to arrest him on a $30K warrant, police said.

A 19-year-old Jefferson man with an outstanding warrant for alleged burglary and theft tried to flee from officers Monday night before a police K-9 tracked him down and bit his arm, Capt. Eric Wilsusen said.

According to Wilsusen, Jefferson Police attempted to arrest Michael Palazzolo at his Robin Drive home Monday night at about 10:30 p.m. for a $30,000 warrant he had for alleged burglary and theft incidents on Rudmar Road in Oak Ridge in early September.

When officers arrived, Palazzolo ran from them into nearby woods, Wilsusen said. The Morris County Sheriff's K-9 Unit responded, and a dog ran after Palazzolo, Wilsusen said.

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Palazzolo hid in a tree, but when he jumped down and continued running, the dog chased him and jumped up to bite his arm, knocking him down, Wilsusen said.

Palazzolo suffered minor injuries and was treated at Morristown Memorial Hospital, according to a report supplied by Wilsusen.

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The report said Palazzolo was then transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility on $30,000 bail for the burglary and theft charge.

He was also charged with hindering apprehension, possession of heroin and possession of a hypodermic needle, the report said.

The break-ins Palazzolo is accused of committing are unrelated to the recent string of burglaries the township has been seeing, Wilsusen said.

Palazzolo was also arrested in April for allegedly stealing scrap metal from a residential property and driving with a suspended license, according to a police report.


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