Inmate Faking Suicide Attempt Attacks Officers
Press Release
May 12, 2021
Attica , NY – Four officers went to an outside hospital for injuries sustained when an inmate attacked them after luring them into his cell with a fake suicide attempt at the maximum security prison.
On Wednesday, May 5, an officer was delivering meals to inmates in the Special Housing Unit. He came upon an inmate who stated he was suicidal and had wrapped an altered bed sheet around his neck. A response was called and additional staff arrived at the cell. The inmate was ordered to remove the sheet from his neck and he complied. He began making threats at staff and stating he wanted to fight them.
A sergeant attempted to de-escalate the situation but the inmate remained agitated and combative. He again placed the sheet around his neck with it tied to the cell bars. Staff entered the cell to stop the inmate from hurting himself. As they entered the cell, the inmate removed the sheet and lunged at the officers. He began punching and kicking the officers as they tried to get control. Staff was able to get the inmate into a body hold and into handcuffs.
He was removed from the cell and brought to the infirmary for evaluation.
During the investigation, the inmate told a sergeant he faked the hanging so the officers would enter the cell so he could fight them.
Four officers were transported to United Memorial Medical Center for treatment. One officer had pain and swelling to his right forearm and jaw. A second officer had facial swelling, a chipped tooth and swelling and pain to his knee. A third officer had pain, swelling and abrasions to his hand, knuckles and left elbow. The fourth officer sustained pain and swelling to his hand, wrist and elbow and abrasions to his lower leg. They were all treated and released and did not return to duty.
Several officers sustained minor injuries subduing the inmate. They were treated by medical staff at the facility and remained on duty.
The inmate, 24, is serving a 17 year sentence after being convicted for Attempted Murder 2nd and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd in Onondaga County in 2018.
“Four more officers injured after being lured into the inmate’s cell just so he could attack them. The officers main priority was to get into the cell to stop the inmate from hurting himself and he used it as a ruse to attack them. This is an inmate that was already in a Special Housing Unit for disciplinary charges and who callously shot a shop keeper in the head in Syracuse over stealing a bottle of soda in 2017. Exactly the type of inmate who uses the lax disciplinary system currently in place to attack staff.” – stated Mark Deburgomaster, Western Region Vice President.