Crime & Safety

2 Arrested After Manhunt on Pleasant Ridge Road

One of the men attempted to steal an occupied vehicle before police tracked him down.

Two men with violent criminal backgrounds are in police custody after a car chase that ended with an accident along the Hutchinson River Parkway in Harrison early Friday afternoon.

Michael Donofiro, 47, and Michael Maitta, 49, of the Bronx, led police on a chase from White Plains after police there attempted to pull them over in connection with a burglary, police said. The two got onto the Hutchinson River Parkway northbound before crashing their 1997 Dodge Caravan near the Mobil gas station at about 12:15 p.m.

Police arrested Donofiro at the scene of the accident, Maitta fled into the nearby woods and attempted to steal an occupied civilian vehicle from a woman on Pleasant Ridge Road in Harrison, police said. Maitta jumped from the bushes and attempted to enter the woman's vehicle while she was parked in her driveway. The woman had her doors locked and was able to drive off safely, police said.

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"He grabbed the car handle and tried to get in the door, thank God the vehicle was locked," said Harrison Police Lieutenant Mike Olsey. "She put the car in drive, leaned on the horn and drove out to Pleasant Ridge Road where an officer saw her."

Moments later an officer caught Maitta in the yard of a home at 26 Pleasant Ridge Road and made the arrest. Harrison police are charging Maitta with second-degree attempted robbery in addition to any possible burglary charges out of White Plains.

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The foot pursuit of Maitta lasted about 10 minutes, Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini said.

Maitta and Donofiro have an extensive violent criminal history including homicide, armed robbery and weapons possession, police said. They are being investigated for other burglaries in Greenburgh, Yonkers and in Rockland County.

Harrison High School's campus is located in the vicinity of the chase and police advised the district to lock-in the campus during the pursuit. The district was initially warned that Maitta could be armed, but police have not found any weapons.

"Harrison's finest resolved it probably within, I would say eight to seven minutes of the phone call," Harrison Superintendent Louis Wool said, adding that although preparations were being made, the school's campus was never actually locked.

Several police agencies including the White Plains, Harrison and Westchester County Police Departments were involved in the chase.

White Plains police have both Maitta and Donofiro in custody.

We will have more information as it becomes available.


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