OTISVILLE – Several staff were injured at Otisville Correctional Facility when an inmate attacked officers who attempted to stop him from flushing contraband down the toilet at the medium security facility on Monday.
The union representing the officers, the New York State Corrections Officers PBA reported the incident.
Initially, a female officer was making routine security rounds in a housing unit when she noticed the inmate standing in the shower entrance acting suspicious. The officer ordered the inmate out of the entrance and to empty his pockets on a table in the unit. A second officer arrived and ordered the inmate to submit to a pat frisk. Before officers could conduct the frisk, the inmate pushed one of the officers and ran into the bathroom with both officers in pursuit.
The inmate entered a bathroom stall and closed the stall door on the hand of one of the officers. He refused orders to release the door. The officers observed the inmate attempting to flush contraband down the toilet. OC Spray was administered to the inmate with no effect. A third officer arrived on the scene and forced open the stall door, releasing the officer’s hand.
When the door was opened, the inmate punched the officer in the left eye.
Staff grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the floor. On the floor and still combative, staff were able to control his legs and handcuff his wrists. Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.
He was removed from the unit and transferred to Woodbourne Correctional Facility and placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges.
The prisoner is serving a 12-year sentence after being convicted in New York County in 2012 for felony 0criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Five officers were injured in the incident. The officer who was punched in the left eye sustained pain and swelling to the eye. Four officers sustained knee, shoulder, hand and arm injuries subduing the inmate.
All five officers were treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty.
In 2021, the state prison system witnessed a record number of officers being assaulted by inmates. The union said it continued a five-year trend of violence against staff. The assaults are driven by a lack of real consequences for the vicious attacks committed against our members, and the ever-increasing flow of contraband into the facilities, union officials said.
They said the state Department of Correctional and Community Services disciplinary system “has been completely dismantled by the State Legislature.”
“Fortunately for our members who work at Otisville, the Orange County District Attorney, David Hoovler, is one elected official who stands behind our members and holds violent inmates accountable,” said NYSCOPBA Mid-Hudson Region Vice President Chris Moreau. “Still, more needs to be done to stop the violence. One step in the right direction
