PD: Home Invasion Ends when Victim Pulls Machete on Knife-Wielding Suspect

What started as a home invasion Wednesday morning ended with the Middletown suspect fleeing after being outmatched by the victim, police said.

That’s because 33-year-old Damion Palmer, of 1160 South Main St., brought a large knife when he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home at 170 Rose Circle while his victim wielded a machete, according to an arrest report released Thursday.

According to police, Palmer entered the Rose Circle apartment sometime before 6:30 a.m. after a complainant, the apartment dweller's current boyfriend, said he heard a door open and slam shut in the apartment.

The boyfriend went downstairs where he confronted Palmer, whom the victim recognized, police said. Palmer and the woman who lives in the apartment separated a year earlier and Palmer was not welcome at her residence, police said.

When the victim asked Palmer why he was there, Palmer lifted his shirt to reveal a large knife tucked into his pants. He then began ranting that he had been dating the woman for 10 years and that he “couldn’t let go," the report said.

The complainant then attempted to call 911 and, while doing so, grabbed a small machete to defend himself, police said. Palmer fled the apartment before police arrived.

Detectives recovered two knives from the 170 Rose Circle home during a canvass of the area. During the investigation Palmer contacted the Middletown police and agreed to come to the station.

He was arrested on charges of home invasion and second-degree threatening. He was held on a $250,000 bond.