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Inmate assaults Officers at Sullivan Hospital

Posted 2/18/20

STORMVILLE — The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association reported last week that several officers sustained injuries after an inmate attacked them at a local hospital …

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Inmate assaults Officers at Sullivan Hospital

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STORMVILLE — The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association reported last week that several officers sustained injuries after an inmate attacked them at a local hospital they had stopped at to get the inmate treatment.

The incident occurred on Wednesday , February 5.

“The inmate, who was scheduled to be paroled on that day, was being transported to Wyoming to face an outstanding warrant,” reads the report of the incident. “During the transport, the inmate complained of chest pains. The officers stopped at a local hospital in Sullivan County to have the inmate evaluated. After the inmate was cleared to be released, relief officers, who came to the hospital to replace the original transport officers, went to apply a waist chain around the inmate for transport. The inmate became combative, spitting multiple times in the face of two officers. During the struggle, the inmate bit two officers on the hand, breaking the skin on both. The inmate remained combative, attempting to kick, punch and head butt officers. The inmate was removed from the hospital and, as he was being put inside the transport van, he kicked one officer in the face. OC Pepper Spray was applied twice with no effect. The inmate was eventually secured in the van after the struggle.”

The officers were ordered to return the inmate to Green Haven Correctional Facility. Once back at the facility, he continued to be combative, spitting at officers.

Two officers were treated at local hospitals for exposure and bite wounds on the hand. They were treated and released and remained on duty. The inmate, 28 years old, is serving a four to five year sentence after being convicted in New York County in 2017 for two counts of Assault 2nd and one count of Attempted Arson 3rd.

“This incident not only put staff at risk, but hospital staff as well. The inmate, who became highly agitated when he learned he was being transported to Wyoming County to face warrant charges rather than be released on parole, violently attacked officers who were simply attempting to get him medical attention. Just another example of how dangerous this profession is and how it can escalate in an instant, ” said Michael Mazzella, NYSCOPBA Mid-Region Vice President.

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