Two corrections officers were wounded after an inmate armed with a homemade weapon attacked staff during a wellness check at Mid-State Correctional Facility, according to the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA).
The incident occurred on May 29 at the medium-security prison, when an officer making normal rounds realized an offender had covered his cell window with a towel, preventing staff from looking inside, according to a NYSCOPBA news release.
After several fruitless attempts to communicate with the inmate, a reaction team of three correction officers and a National Guard member entered the cell to conduct a welfare check.
According to the NYSCOPBA, staff located the inmate hiding in an adjoining leisure pen. The convict then charged at the responding personnel, carrying a makeshift weapon.
According to the union, a National Guard man used a shield to push the inmate back after he attempted to stab staff multiple times.
During the struggle, the inmate allegedly stabbed one correction officer in the forearm and another in the knee before staff could take control. The convict continued to resist while on the ground, but was eventually restrained, handcuffed, and escorted to a holding cell.
Both injured cops got initial treatment at the facility before being transferred to a nearby urgent care hospital, where they were sutured. Both cops are likely to recover.
Following the incident, staff found a sharpened 6-inch weapon in the inmate’s cell. According to NYSCOPBA, a preliminary inquiry revealed that the weapon was made of a piece of plastic broken off the inmate’s electronic tablet.
The inmate was then transported to the Auburn Correctional Facility.
According to Bryan Hluska, NYSCOPBA’s Central Region vice president, instances involving convicts who purposely impede staff’s view of a cell can swiftly escalate into danger.
“Entering a cell where an inmate has intentionally obscured staff’s view can be exceedingly risky for correction officers. Unfortunately, that threat became a reality in this case,” Hluska explained. “Armed with a homemade weapon, the inmate clearly intended to attack staff and succeeded in stabbing two officers before being subdued.”
Hluska praised the responding officers and National Guard members for promptly stabilizing the situation and preventing further injuries.
He also expressed concern about the disciplinary choices available under New York’s HALT Act, which restricts the use of segregated detention.
“While the inmate has been transferred to a maximum-security facility, the internal disciplinary measures available because of the HALT Act are limited,” Hluska stated. “Until the State Legislature implements the HALT Committee recommendations, the most meaningful accountability in situations like this may come through criminal prosecution.”
Hluska noted that filing felony assault charges and receiving additional jail term could help deter future attacks on correctional officers.
Leave a Reply