CATSKILL – An inmate at Greene Correctional Facility attacked a female correctional officer on June 5 sending her to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries, according to the officer’s union, the New York State Corrections Officers PBA. The assault occurred at approximately 9:10 p.m.
The officer, who was working alone in a housing unit of the medium security prison, was followed by the inmate into a supply closet. Once inside, he partially closed the door. Without warning, he violently punched the officer in the face several times and slammed her against the wall. During the attack, the inmate ripped the officer’s body camera off of her shirt and grabbed her personal alarm radio from her belt, throwing the equipment outside of the supply closet so the officer couldn’t call for help.
He delivered several strikes to the inner thigh of the officer with his knee in an attempt to bring her to the ground.
Several other inmates in the housing unit heard the commotion as the officer was fighting off the attack. They came to her aid and were able to stop the attack. Her personal alarm system was activated and responding officers arrived on the scene.
The inmate refused to comply with staff and resisted attempts to place him in handcuffs. Officers hit him with several applications of pepper spray, but they were not effective.
He was finally subdued by the responding officers and removed from the housing unit.
He is serving a five-year sentence after being convicted for attempted murder in Bronx County in 2018.
He was transferred to a maximum security facility and placed in a Special Housing Unit.
The officer was transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment of a laceration to her lip that took several stiches to close, deep bruising to her thigh and other injuries. She has been unable to return to duty at this time.
State Police were notified of the assault. Investigation is continuing.
“This absolutely horrific attack on one of my members needs to be a wakeup call to DOCCS and Governor Cuomo,” said NYSCOBA Regional Vice President Michael Mazzella. “The governor touts his record for releasing non‐violent inmates and closing prisons, but that only leaves violent inmates in our facilities who have no fear in attacking an officer. No officer should be working alone in any housing unit, but certainly not in units that are set up dormitory style. This assault was a brutal physical attack and an attempted sexual assault. If not for the will of the officer to survive during the fight for her life and the inmates who came to her aid, we would be having a very different conversation right now.”
