STORMVILLE – Several state corrections officers sustained injuries after a Green Haven Correctional Facility prisoner, who was being transported to Wyoming County, attacked them at a local hospital they had stopped at to get the inmate treatment.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 5 and was made public on Friday, February 14 by the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing the officers.
The 28-year-old inmate, who was scheduled to be paroled on that date, was being transported to Wyoming to face an outstanding warrant.
During the transport, the 28-year-old inmate complained of chest pains and officers took him to a Sullivan County hospital for evaluation.
After he was cleared for release, relief officers who came to the hospital to replace the original officers, went to apply a waist chain around the inmate for transport and the prisoner became combative, spitting several times in the face of two officers.
During the struggle, the inmate bit two officers on the hand, breaking the skin on both.
The inmate continued to be combative, attempting to kick, punch and head butt officers.
He was removed from the hospital and as he was being put inside the transport van he kicked one officer in the face.
Officers deployed pepper spray twice with no effect, but the inmate was eventually secured in the van after the struggle.
The officers were ordered to return the inmate to Green Haven. Once they returned, he continued to be combative, spitting at the officers.
Two officers were treated at local hospitals for exposure and bite wounds on the hand. They were treated and released and remained on duty.
The inmate is serving a four to five year sentenced after being convicted in Manhattan in 2017 for two counts of assault and one count of attempted assault.
“This incident not only put staff at risk, but hospital staff as sell,” said Michael Mazzella, NYSCOPBA Mid-Hudson regional vice president.
