News Release
MARCY, NY – Two officers were injured in separate attacks at Mid-State and Cape Vincent Correctional Facilities last week.
In addition, officers processing inmate mail also seized drugs that were hidden in the packages at both medium security prisons.
On Thursday, April 15, an officer witnessed two inmates fighting inside the bathroom at Mid-State prison. The fight ended quickly and the officer placed one of the inmates in handcuffs and escorted him out of the unit. While in a small waiting room, the officer went to frisk the inmate for contraband and he was kicked in the groin. Still in handcuffs, the inmate also attempted to elbow the officer. The officer placed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to a bench in the waiting room. After a brief struggle, the inmate became complaint.
The inmate, 25, is serving a three year sentence after being convicted in Onondaga County in 2019 for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th.
He faces disciplinary charges in the assault.
The injured officer sustained pain and swelling to his back and right knee. He was treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty.
The same day, an officer was assaulted at Cape Vincent prison. An inmate approached an officer in one of the facility dorms. He was extremely irritated and began yelling at the officer. Additional staff responded to the dorm and the inmate was escorted out of the dorm by two officers so he could be frisked for contraband. Prior to being frisked, the inmate turned and punched one officer in the left side of his face. Both officers grabbed the inmate in a body hold. He continued to struggle with both officers. OC spray was administered but had no effect. The two officers continued to use body holds and forced the inmate to the ground. On the ground, the inmate was placed in handcuffs and stopped fighting with the two officers.
The inmate, 42, was removed from the scene and placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges. He is serving a five year sentence after being convicted in 2017 for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd.
State police were notified of the incident.
The officer sustained pain and swelling to the left side of his face. He was treated by medical staff at the facility and remained on duty.
On Sunday, April 11, officers seized 60 strips of Suboxone and 26 grams of synthetic marijuana at Cape Vincent. The drugs were hidden inside a package of Ritz Crackers mailed to an inmate from Brooklyn. Two days later, nine orange strips were found inside the seam of a book mailed to an inmate from an address in Bridgeport, CT.
On Thursday, April 15, an officer processing inmate mail at Mid-State discovered three envelopes mailed to three inmates that contained birthday cards inside. The officer noticed on all three cards water marks consistent with some type of drug being saturated and dried on the cards. Two of the cards were mailed from the same address in Auburn, NY. The third card was mailed from Port Bryon, NY.
All drugs were seized as evidence.
“Two more assaults on staff, two more officers injured! The violent trend against staff continues as more and more officers are assaulted and injured daily. Now with HALT legislation passed there will be little or no deterrent to stop attacks on staff. The elected officials who pushed for this legislation have no idea how dangerous it is for our members inside those prison walls. Combat that with the continued attempts to smuggle drugs into inmates through the mail, it has become very apparent that this administration does not fully support its staff and that is extremely sad.” – stated Bryan Hluska, NYSCOPBA Central Region Vice President.