Westchester Man, Accomplice Arrested in Connecticut Home Invasion

Written by BARBARA HEINS (Patch Staff)

Two men are facing home invasion, assault and robbery charges following a brutal attack of a Stamford, Conn. man during a home invasion late Wednesday.

The 46-year-old victim told Stamford Police he answered a knock at his Alton Road home at 11:06 p.m. Wednesday and was told by the two suspects they wanted to talk to him “because they had backed into his car,” according to Police Capt. Richard Conklin.

“They launched into a very vicious assault and beat him until he was unrecognizable,” Conklin said. “He had picked up a knife before he answered the door … they were beating the hell out of hime and at some point it spills outside and he is able to stab one of the suspects in the arm.”

At that point, neighbors heard the commotion and called 9-1-1, Conklin said. When officers arrived, the suspects attempted to flee.

Officer Norris Clark chased one suspect — the one who was stabbed, and caught him, Conklin said. The victim was rushed to Stamford Hospital where he was admitted for treatment of extensive but non life-threatening wounds.

While detectives and forensic investigators processed the crime scene, officers found the second suspect hiding beneath a van in the backyard, Conklin said.

Both suspects — identified as Joseph Donofrio, 32, of Hawthorne, NY, and Michal Polizzi, 31, of the Bronx, NY, were held in lieu of $500,000 bond each that was set on charges of home invasion, firs-degree assault and first-degree robbery, according to Conklin.

Conklin said that the attack “was not a random act. It appears it was a targeted attack.” Both suspects were wearing latex gloves, he added.

Police are seeking a search warrant for a car found a short distance away from the crime scene that contains a box of latex gloves, Conklin said. He would not elaborate further.

Donofrio and Polizzi were to be arraigned Monday afternoon in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Stamford Police photos: Michael Polizzi, left, and Joseph Donofrio.