Green Haven officer assaulted

STORMVILLE – A corrections
officer aat Green Haven Correctional Facility was punched in the face
and choked by an inmate in an unprovoked attack that occurred last Wednesday
morning, the New York State Corrections Officerss 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. 
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 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 years 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.”