Elmira, NY – Several officers were injured in two separate inmate attacks and two visitors arrested at Elmira Correctional Facility attempting to bring drugs into the maximum security facility during inmate visits in the last two weeks.
- At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, an officer observed vomit on an inmate’s shirt while in the recreation yard. The officer ordered the inmate to the infirmary to be examined. Approaching the infirmary, the inmate refused to enter and started walking to the cell block door. He was confronted by staff and took an aggressive stance towards them. He proceeded to punch two sergeants in the face. He was brought to the ground and after a brief struggle was placed in restraints. The inmate admitted to staff that he had just smoked Synthetic Marijuana, commonly known as K2. Three officers sustained minor injuries. They were treated by medical staff and remained on duty.
- At 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 17, an officer was processing a male visitor and went to search his wallet. The visitor grabbed something out of the wallet before the officer could search it and cupped it in his hand. He was ordered to place the item on the table and he complied. During questioning, the man admitted to the officer that the package contained heroin. State Police responded to the facility and transported the visitor to the Horsehead Barracks where he was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th and Promoting Prison Contraband 1st.
- At 3:10 p.m. on Friday, June 21, an inmate notified an officer he was cut from behind in the recreation yard. He was taken to the infirmary where he was treated for two superficial lacerations to his cheek and the side and back of his neck. Officers searched inmates in the yard but did not recover a weapon. At 10:15 p.m. on the same day, an inmate was returning from a medical evaluation after being involved in a fight. He suddenly turned and struck an officer in the right side of the head. Staff took the inmate to the ground where he continued to fight with officers. Additional staff arrived and the inmate was placed in mechanical restraints and removed from the area. Three officers sustained injuries. They were treated by medical staff and transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center for further treatment. One officer sustained a fracture to his left hand in the incident. The officers did not return to duty.
- At 11:10 a.m. a K9 and his sergeant handler were conducting routine searches in the visitor parking lot. The sergeant witnessed a female exit her car and run around to the back of the vehicle and throw a plastic bag under the car. The K9 alerted to the area under the car. The plastic bag was recovered. It contained marijuana, K2, heroin, and Suboxone. The woman admitted to bringing the drugs for an inmate. State Police were notified and the woman was transported to the Horseheads Barracks and arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd.
All of the inmates face disciplinary charges. The two inmates who assaulted staff were placed in a Special Housing Unit.
“Staff once again did an excellent job detecting contraband that was bound for inmates inside the facility. Time and time again we see the success K9’s have in detecting illegal drugs that visitors attempt to bring to inmates. Even with that success, drugs still find their way into the prisons. One staff assault committed by an inmate can be directly attributed to him smoking Synthetic Marijuana just prior to attacking two supervisors. The administration must be committed to doing everything possible to stop the flow of these dangerous drugs into facilities .“ – stated Joe Miano, Western Region Vice President.
