FALLSBURG, NY —  Seven officers were injured at Sullivan Correctional Facility last week in two separate inmate attacks that led to two of the officers needing to be transported to a local hospital for further treatment of their injuries.

On Tuesday, November 1, an officer observed an inmate taking strips of his sock and tying them around his neck to harm himself.   The officer called for a staff response and two additional officers responded.   The three officers, who were concerned for the inmates welfare, entered the cell.  Once the officers entered the cell, the inmate became immediately combative.  He struck one officer in the side of the face.  Two of the officers grabbed him in a body hold and forced him to the ground.  Once on the ground and still combative, the inmate was able to bite one of the officers on the forearm and refused to release the bite.  Forced was needed to get the inmate to release the bite.  Once the inmate released his bite, officers were able to apply handcuffs. 

Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.  He was brought to his feet, and escorted to the infirmary for evaluation. 

The officer who was struck in the face sustained pain and swelling to his face and cheekbone.  The officer who was bit, sustained pain and swelling to his forearm.  The third officer sustained pain and swelling to his knee subduing the inmate. 

All three officers were treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty. 

The inmate, 32, was convicted of robbery and rape in 2020 in Orange County.  In 2018,  he robbed a 67 year man in a carjacking and locked him in the trunk of the car during the incident.  He also raped an underage girl. 

He is currently serving a 16 year sentence. 

The following day, an inmate was being observed in his cell on a suicide watch.  Four officers began to escort the inmate to a frisk room to be searched for contraband.  Once in the frisk room, an officer removed part of the handcuffs on the inmate.  With one arm free, the inmate grabbed the officer by the arm.  The officers grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the floor where he continued to fight with officers.  The officers were able to bring the inmate under control and applied handcuffs again.  The inmate was brought to his feet and removed from the escort room. 

The four officers who escorted the inmate to the frisk room were injured subduing the inmate.    One officer sustained pain to his left hand and foot.  A second officer sustained elbow pain.  Both officers were transported to Garnett Medical Center for treatment.  

The two other officers sustained knee and shoulder injuries.  Both were treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty. 

The inmate, 20, is serving a 22 years to life sentence after being convicted in Kings County in 2019 for Murder 2^nd and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd. 

“At the end of last month,  assaults on staff shattered the yearly record with a little over eight weeks left in the year.  Assaults on staff now stand at 1231, a number that clearly tells the story of how dangerous a year it has been for staff and will surely continue to climb.    With no indication that the State Legislature will amend or repeal the HALT Act, we can only assume that 2023 will be another statistical record year.  Now that the elections are over, the legislature should make it a priority to address prison violence and ensure that safety of staff is of the utmost importance.   Those men and women who work in state correctional facilities deserve nothing less after what they have endured the last couple of years” – stated Chris Moreau , New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolant Association Mid-Hudson Region Vice President.