Corrections officer attacked and injured at Orleans prison

Press Release, NYS Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association

Provided photo: A corrections officer sustained two fractures in the face.

ALBION – An inmate, serving a 25 years-to-life sentence for murder, viciously attacked an officer inside of one of the housing dorms at the medium security correctional facility last weekend.

The assault occurred on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. An officer was making routine rounds in the dorm when an inmate became verbally abusive to him. The officer returned to the officer’s station and notified a supervisor of the incident.

The officer ordered the unruly inmate to the officer’s station. Initially, the inmate walked to the officer’s station. As he approached the station, he ignored the officer and ran towards the dorm bathroom despite several orders by the officer to return. The officer followed the inmate into the bathroom where, as he entered, the inmate punched the officer in the face.

The officer immediately exited the bathroom into the dayroom where the inmate followed and lunged at him. The officer attempted to utilize his OC spray, but was only able to administer half an application, which had no effect.

When the inmate lunged at the officer, the officer fell backwards to the dayroom floor.  The inmate jumped on top of the officer and began striking the officer multiple times in the face and body.

Despite the attack, the officer was able to activate his alarm and apply two applications of OC spray with no effect. Two officers arrived at the dorm and observed the inmate still on top of the officer striking him repeatedly in the face and body.

The two officers were able to pull the inmate off the officer. The inmate continued to be combative and attempted to punch both responding officers. He was unsuccessful, and was put in a body hold by both officers and forced to the wall. The officers were able to force both arms behind his back and apply handcuffs to the inmate.  Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.

The inmate was escorted off the dorm after the attack to be decontaminated.

The injured officer was taken to the facility infirmary and transferred to Millard Filmore Suburban Hospital for treatment. He was diagnosed with a fracture to his left maxillary bone and a fractured nasal bone. In addition to those injuries, he sustained a three-inch laceration from his lip to his cheek that was consistent with a cutting style weapon, two lacerations to his forehead, and swelling and bruising under his left eye and back of his head and a separated shoulder.

A search of the area where the officer was attacked and the inmate’s cube did not turn up a weapon.

The two responding officers sustained minor injuries subduing the inmate. One officer was treated at United Memorial Medical Center for hand and shin injuries. The second officer was treated at the facility for back pain. Both officers remained on duty.

The inmate, 44, was convicted in 2004 in Kings County for Murder 2nd and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd. He was transferred to Attica Correctional Facility after the attack.

“Another day passes and more officers assaulted at the hands of convicted felons. This officer at Orleans was attempting to verify the safety for staff and inmates alike and was beaten and slashed for doing his job by a convict with no fear of repercussions,” said Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President. “We are days away from a possible budget where the legislature is poised to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars. They need to look at pictures of assaulted officers like this one and realize they can must do more to protect the men and woman that walk into these state correctional facilities every day-our lives depend on them and Repealing HALT doesn’t cost the taxpayers a penny!”