STORMVILLE – A corrections officer was punched in the face and choked
by an inmate in an unprovoked attack that occurred last Wednesday morning,
the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association
reported.
The incident occurred at about 8:25 a.m. when association officials said
inmate Tirone Moore, 29, approached the officer, who was standing in front
of the housing unit supply chest, and asked to speak with him. Without
warning, the inmate took off his shirt and struck the officer in the face
with his closed fist.
The officer attempted to grab the inmate in a body hold, which caused
him to fall backwards into the closet. Moore placed his left arm around
the officer’s neck and placed him in a choke hold.
Two officers responded to the scene and needed to strike the inmate several
times to get him to release the choke hold.
The injured officer sustained a bruised forearm, small laceration to his
nose and minor injuries to his upper lip, left index finger and right
hand.
Two of the responding officers sustained minor injuries getting Moore
off the officer and into restraints.
All three officers were treated and released at Vassar Brothers Medical
Center.
`Inmate Moore is serving a nine-year sentence after being convicted of
attempted robbery in Kings County in 2012.
The assault follows a serious attack on an officer at the prison in September
in which the officer was choked unconscious by an inmate serving a life
sentence for two murders.
That incident occurred on Wednesday, September at about 6:40 p.m.
Inmate Lawrence Mikel, 42, was given instructions by an officer to walk
through a cell sensor, which is used to detect hidden contraband. Mikel
refused, used both hands to push the officer, and punched him in the face.
The inmate wrapped both of his armed around the officer’s neck and
choked him until he lost consciousness.
Three officers responded and had to strike Mikel several times with
a baton to get him to release the choke hold. The inmate was strained
and placed into restraints.
The injured officer regained consciousness at the scene and was transported
to MidHudson Regional Hospital for treatment of a concussion, bruises
to both cheek bones, temple and forehead, bruising to his neck, and abrasions
to both knees.
Two of the responding officers sustained minor injuries.
Mikel is serving a 50-year to life sentence after being convicted in 1992
in Monroe County for two separate robberies and murders.
He was since transferred out of Green Haven.
“Both these attacks were unprovoked and could have easily killed
both officers if not for the quick action of their fellow officers,”
said union Mid-Hudson Region Vice President Michael Mazzella. “The
fact that both inmates chose to attack both officers for no apparent reason
is alarming. This is a prime example of how quickly a situation can escalate
and how dangerous the environment inside our prisons is for our members.”
