FALLSBURGH, NY — Five correctional officers were treated at a local hospital after an inmate attacked them during a routine pat frisk last week, according to the NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

On Monday, January 15, an officer at Sullivan County’s maximum security correctional facility ordered an inmate walking back to his cell block to submit to a pat frisk for contraband. The association said the inmate refused orders to place his hands on the wall, then turned around and took an aggressive stance against the officer. The inmate proceeded to walk away from the officer and refused to stop when given several orders.

A second officer dosed the inmate with pepper spray, which had no effect, the association says. A second round of spray also had no effect.

As the inmate ran toward his cell block, staff grabbed him and retained him in a body hold. The inmate struck the officer several times in the back as the officer tried to maintain the body hold. When staff arrived, they forced the inmate to the ground, where he remained combative, according to the association. He refused orders to place his hands behind his back. A third round of pepper spray had no effect.

As the inmate continued to fight on the ground with officers, additional staff helped force his arms behind his back and apply handcuffs. Once the inmate was handcuffed, the association says, all force ceased, and the inmate was brought to his feet and placed against the wall. 

While against the wall, the inmate attempted to spit at staff. Staff applied a spit net and escorted the inmate to the infirmary for evaluation. 

The inmate, 23, was then transferred to Wende Correctional Facility. He is currently serving a one-to-four-year sentence after being convicted in Albany County for third-degree burglary in 2021. 

Five officers were treated by the correctional facility’s medical staff and transported to Garnett Health Medical Center for the treatment of ankle, shoulder, eye, elbow, hand and shoulder injuries. 

The officers returned to duty after being released from the medical center, the association said.

“Almost one full month into the new year, and the cycle of violence continues,” said Joe Horacek, vice president of the association’s Mid-Hudson Region, said in a statement. “After a record-setting year for violence in 2023, the new year appears to be following the same trend. It shouldn’t be shocking that anything would change since the state legislature made no attempt to address the on-going violence inside the prisons. They were elected to represent the people of New York and protect their best interests, yet they clearly do not have the best interests of the officers and the civilian staff who work inside the prisons nor the inmates who abide by the rules while they are incarcerated. They can ignore the problem, but it won’t go away, and burying their head in the sand is not going to change reality. Their progressive criminal justice policies have created this violence, and they have a responsibility to all New Yorkers to fix it.”