COXSACKIE – Three officers were injured at Coxsackie Correctional Facility in October when an inmate fought with them in the mess hall at the maximum-security prison.
The incident occurred at about 11:10 a.m. on Sunday, October 18.
The 19-year-old inmate who is serving an 11-year sentence on a 2019 Suffolk County conviction for manslaughter, slammed his food tray down, lunged at an officer, and struck him several times in the face.
The inmate ran and was caught at the rear of the mess hall where he struggled with three officers, who suffered injuries.
Once under control, during a pat frisk, an officer found a sharpened plastic toothbrush with a cloth handle and a single prescription anti-depressant in his pants pocket. The contraband was seized as evidence.
Officer injuries included bruises, abrasions and lacerations.
“This was a serious unprovoked attack on two of our officers by a violent felon. Thankfully the two officers were able to act quickly, and with the assistance of another officer, get the inmate under control before they sustained any other injuries,” said Chris Moreau, Mid-Hudson Region vice president of the New York State Corrections Officers PBA. “As it turned out, the inmate was armed with a sharpened toothbrush that he easily could have used to stab any one of the officers in the struggle. This is another reminder on day when we celebrate National First Responders Day, the dangers our members face every day. I strongly encourage the Greene County District’s Attorney’s Office to pursue criminal charges in this senseless attack.”
