Alden, NY – An inmate, serving at 10-year sentence for Attempted Robbery, attacked and injured staff in separate attacks that occurred 10 days apart, sending four officers to local hospitals for further treatment.
On Tuesday, November 12, a female officer was releasing inmates from their cells for morning breakfast. The inmate suddenly charged the female officer, grabbed her upper body, and attempted to push her off the 2nd floor cell block. The officer defended herself as three officers responded to the attack. One of the responding officers grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground. On the ground and extremely combative, the inmate was able to kick one of the officers several times in the head as he attempted to restrain his legs. The four officers were able to finally restrain his legs and forced his arms behind his back and applied handcuffs. Once in handcuffs, all forced ceased.
The inmate was brought to a standing position and turned his head and spit blood on three of the officers, striking them in the face, eyes, and upper body. The officers escorted the inmate to the infirmary for evaluation and he continued to be combative and disruptive. A spit net was applied as the inmate continued to spit at staff. Once evaluated by medical personnel, the inmate was placed in a Special Housing Unit. The female officer initially attacked sustained hand and leg injuries. She was treated by medical staff at the facility.
The three officers who responded to the assault, sustained leg, hand, and head injuries as well as blood exposure. One of the officers was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital and others were taken Erie County Medical Center for further treatment and did not return to duty.
The second attack by the same inmate occurred on Friday, November 22nd. Initially an officer attempted to apply handcuffs to the inmate, and he refused. After ignoring several more orders from the officer, the inmate suddenly punched the officer in the left side of the face, knocking him backwards. A second officer responded and grabbed the inmate in a body hold when he charged him, causing the officer and inmate to fall to the floor. On the floor and extremely combative, the inmate attempted to spit on the officer and break free. Two additional officers responded as the inmate continued to struggle and spit at the officers. The three officers were able to force the inmate’s arms behind his back and apply handcuffs and a spit net. He was brought to his feet and all forced ceased. The inmate was escorted to the infirmary for evaluation where he remained compliant.
The officer who was initially attacked had is eye swollen shut and swelling to his face. After being treated by medical staff at the facility, he went to an outside urgent care for further treatment. The officer sustained a fractured orbital bone and a fractured sinus and still hasn’t returned to work.
The three officers who responded to the assault sustained shoulder and hand injuries. They all remained on duty after being treated at the facility. The inmate, 30, is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted in Queens County in 2022 for Attempted Robbery 1st and Attempted Robbery 2nd. He was transferred to Upstate Correctional Facility after the second attack.
“Another day, another round of officers injured at the hands of an inmate. Eight officers added to the record-breaking tally of assaults on staff at the hands of one inmate in two separate assaults. The injuries to staff were compounded in this attack at Wende when the inmate deliberately spit blood on three of the officers in the first assault, causing significant exposure to them and a potentially serious health risk. If there was any type of disciplinary system left, there is a chance that the second attack might not have occurred. I can only wonder if the state legislators, who pander to the inmates and pushed through the HALT Act, would think differently if they were attacked every day and had blood spit in their face? Maybe they need to experience firsthand what our members face every day they work inside a state prison before calling these assaults not serious. The HALT Act has failed miserably, do you think this inmate thought twice about fracturing an officers orbital? Instead of supporting inmates, maybe they would begin to support the men and women who protect them and the communities they represent if they had to walk in their shoes for just one day!”-stated Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President.
