NAPANOCH – An officer at the maximum security Eastern Correctional Facility in Napanoch was attacked by an inmate serving a 25-year sentence for burglary in Kings County resulting in the officer striking his head on a metal door. He sustained a deep laceration to his forehead requiring 14 stitches at a local hospital. He also sustained bruising and swelling to his right eye, upper lip, and ribs.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on February 28 and made public on Tuesday by the New York State Corrections Officers PBA, the union representing officers.
The 45-year-old inmate became agitated and attacked the officer when he instructed the prisoner to wait to use a tablet kiosk.
The inmate struck the officer on the side of the head, wrapped his arm around the officer and tried to wrestle him to the floor. The officer was able to activate his personal alarm and continued to struggle with the inmate at which point he struck his head on the door, causing the injury.
The officer was able to break free as a second officer arrived and ordered the inmate to place his hands behind his back, which he did and was handcuffed.
“With a disciplinary system that’s been totally dismantled by the state legislature, all eyes are on district attorneys’ offices to protect our members,” said regional NYSCOPBA Vice President Chris Moreau. “County district attorneys should be throwing the book at any inmate that assaults an officer, not only for the sake of justice, but to send a clear message to all those who believe this type of behavior will be tolerated.”
Moreau “strongly encouraged” the Ulster County DA to charge and prosecute this inmate for felony assault in this vicious attack.”
