ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- Chemung County Sheriff's Investigator Michael Theetge, who was critically injured while responding to a shoplifting incident in Big Flats, has been released from an in-patient Rochester Rehabilitation Facility that he was recovering at.

According to a post on his personal Facebook, shared by the Chemung County Sheriff's Office, Theetge will now receive out-patient treatment to continue his recovery from his injuries.

Theetge cannot hear out of his right ear and the right side of his body is numb, he writes in the post.

"I wouldn't have been able to handle recovery without my wife and our moms watching the kids and spending time with me at the hospital. The Chemung County Sheriffs Office has been amazing in their support for me and my family. I would like to thank everyone for the support that has been shown for me, it has been amazing how everyone has come forward and it is really appreciated. On to the next step tomorrow and hopefully done with treatment soon," Theetge writes.

 

Theetge was transferred to the Rochester Rehabilitation Center on April 11. Before that, he was receiving treatment at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for a brain injury.

On March 29, Theetge was attached to a retail theft prevention unit in Big Flats, when he tried to stop alleged shoplifters from stealing from Target. Police say Theetge was chasing Dominick Haley, who allegedly was trying to steal $300 worth of items from Target. As Theetge chased, they both ended up on the hood of a vehicle which was allegedly waiting to pickup Haley. Police say when they landed on the hood, the driver of the car, Fatiuna Massaline accelerated throwing them both to the ground. Theetge suffered a skull fracture and a brain bleed after getting thrown from that vehicle.

Both suspects in the case have pleaded not guilty in their alleged role contributing to his injuries.

Theetge says he has a long road ahead of him, but is happy to move on to the next recovery step.