NAPANOCH – An inmate at the state’s Ulster Correctional Facility in Napanoch was cut in the back of the head and ear inside a dorm bathroom and it took 50 stitches to close the wounds.
The news of the attack came from the union representing corrections officers – the New York State Corrections Officers PBA.
On Sunday, November 22, at approximately 10:15 p.m., an officer assigned to a dorm at the medium-security correctional facility witnessed three inmates leave the bathroom. The officer entered the bathroom to investigate and witnessed an inmate at the sink with lacerations to the back of his head. He was taken to the infirmary and transported to an outside hospital where he received 50 stitches to close two lacerations to the back of his head and one cut to the back of his ear. The injuries were consistent with a cutting instrument, the union reported.
At this point, it hasn’t been determined who is responsible for the attack.
Earlier in the day, an inmate-on-inmate fight occurred during the meal run. An officer witnessed two inmates exchange punches. They were given several orders to stop. One inmate complied with the order. The second inmate continued to be combative. The officer grabbed the inmate in body hold and took him to the ground. On the ground, the officer was able to apply handcuffs. The inmate was removed from the area and while being escorted to a Special Housing Unit, he spat blood and saliva on two officers.
The officers were taken to the infirmary and treated for exposure and remained on duty.
“Drugs and violence continue to be a significant problem for staff at all prisons across the state. Even with many facilities closed off during the early months of the pandemic, inmate assaults on staff and other inmates continued at levels similar to 2019, said Mark Chris Moreau, union Mid-Hudson vice president. “Drugs are still getting into inmate hands. On November 13, Subxone was seized from two inmates after a K9 alerted to an inmate and officers found the prescription drug on another inmate during a strip search. This is exactly why this is no time to reduce disciplinary measures.”
