STORMVILLE – A NYS corrections officer at Green Haven maximum-security prison was attacked by an inmate on August 23 and choked. In the melee, a total of four officers were injured.
At approximately 12:05 p.m. on that Sunday, the inmate was released from his cell to go to lunch. When he was released from his cell, he was belligerent and screaming at an officer. As the inmate began to exit the housing unit, the officer gave him orders to stop. The inmate refused and continued walking. The officer followed him out of the housing unit and again gave him orders to stop again. The inmate turned and took an aggressive stance at the officer. The officer administered one application of OC spray (pepper spray) but it had no effect. The inmate turned and started running down the cell block with two officers in pursuit. The inmate charged an officer who attempted to stop him. He grabbed the officer in a headlock and began to choke him. Staff used two more applications of OC spray on the inmate to get him to release the chokehold. The OC spray again had no effect. Officers used body holds to get him restrained. Handcuffs were applied and the inmate was removed from the cellblock.
The officer who was choked sustained pain and swelling to his neck, back, and right shoulder. Three officers sustained minor injuries attempting to get the inmate under control. All officers remained on duty.
A search of the inmate’s cell recovered a four-inch-long ice pick type weapon that was sharpened on one end. The weapon was taken as evidence.
The inmate, 50, is serving a six to seven-year sentence after being convicted in New York County for Robbery 2nd and Sex Offender Registration Violation. He was placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary proceedings.
The day before the choking incident, Saturday, a visitor attempted to smuggle drugs into the facility for an inmate.
On August 29, an officer and K9 were in the visitor’s room processing inmate visitors. The K9 alerted to one of the visitors. During questioning, the visitor admitted he was in possession of contraband and turned over a cellophane wrapper from his pants that contained 15.5 grams of marijuana, four unknown pills, and a Fentanyl patch. The visitor was released pending charges.
“Last week’s attack on officers could have been far worse had the inmate being carrying the ice pick type weapon that was recovered from his cell. This is an inmate who is scheduled to be released from prison in March and still chose to assault officers. This is why we need strict disciplinary measures that deter these types of attacks from occurring,”said Mike Mazzella, New York State Corrections Officers PBA (NYSCOPBA) Mid-Hudson Region Vice President.
NEWS STORY PROVIDED BY: Mid Hudson News -www.midhudsonnews.com