WALLKILL – A corrections officer at Wallkill Correctional Facility is recovering from injuries he received when he was attacked and kicked down a flight of stairs by an inmate at the medium security prison.
The attack occurred on Tuesday, July 21 and was reported by the officers’ union, the New York State Corrections Officers PBA.
The inmate approached the officer in a housing unit and asked about getting his recreation privileges back. The officer told the inmate to return to his cell, but the inmate refused and attempted to push his way past the officer.
During the confrontation, the inmate punched the officer in the face causing the officer’s protective mask to block his vision. The inmate then kicked the officer, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs.
The inmate then kicked the officer, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs, and continued the assault after the officer fell.
He was able to deploy his pepper spray before responding staff got the inmate to the ground and into mechanical restraints.
The 43-year-old prisoner is serving a six-year sentence after being convicted in Schenectady County in 2018 for criminal possession of a weapon.
The injured officer was taken to a hospital where he was treated for two black eyes and pain and swelling to his shoulder, wrists and knee. He did not return to duty.
State Police were notified of the incident.
“This was a violent assault by an inmate who already was being disciplined for a previous infraction,” said Mike Mazzella, NYSCOPBA Mid-Hudson region vice president. “The weakened disciplinary measures simply do not deter these unprovoked attacks. I strongly encourage the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute the inmate and send a clear message that this will not be tolerated.”
