Press release
Attica, NY – Multiple staff were injured at Attica Correctional Facility in three separate attacks
that sent several injured officers to local hospitals for treatment last week at the maximum
security correctional facility.
The first attacked occurred on Friday, February 9th.
Initially, inmates were lined up to come back from the recreation yard. One inmate stepped out of line and approached an officer. The officer gave the inmate an order to place his hands on the wall. The inmate ignored the order and punched the officer in the face. A second officer grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the floor. The inmate began to struggle with both officers on the floor.
During the struggle, the inmate attempted to kick one of the officers. Two additional officers responded to the attack and assisted in gaining control of the inmate and handcuffs were applied. Once in
handcuffs, the inmate became complaint and was escorted away from the scene.
Two officers were injured in the attack. One officer sustained pain and swelling to both knees. He was treated at the facility infirmary and remained on duty. The officer who was initially punched, was transported to Wyoming County Community Hospital for treatment of a possible fractured or dislocated jaw.
The inmate, 39, is serving 25 years to life sentence after being convicted in Nassau County in
2011 for Murder 2nd degree, Robbery 1st degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. He and another
suspect, shot a Nassau County man multiple times after robbing him of drugs and money in
2010.
The second attack occurred on Monday, February 12th.
Officers were attempting to move an inmate from his cell in a Special Housing Unit after he made threats against staff. When the cell door was opened, the inmate immediately charged officers and began making stabbing motions at one of the officers, narrowly missing him. During the attack, he punched the officer in the face. The inmate was placed in a body hold and forced to the back of the cell, where he continued
to attempt to stab staff. Additional officers arrived at the cell and assisted in forcing the inmate
to the floor. While on the floor, the inmate remained combative, kicking and fighting with
staff. His arms were forced behind his back and handcuffs were applied. Once in handcuffs, all
force ceased and the inmate was removed from the cell for evaluation.
A search of the inmate’s cell recovered a piece of sharpened plastic that was used in the attack.
Three officers and a sergeant were injured in the attack. The three officers sustained hand,
shoulder, knee, ankle and wrist injuries. The officers also sustained significant blood exposure
from the inmate. The officers were transported to Erie County Medical Center for further
treatment.
The sergeant sustained shoulder, bicep, back and ankle injuries. He was transported to Wyoming
County Community Hospital for treatment.
The inmate, 37, is serving a 15-year sentence after being convicted for Assault 1st in New York
County in 2015. He previously served five years in state prison after being convicted of
Attempted Murder 2nd in Bronx County in 2003. He was transferred to Auburn Correctional Facility after the attack.
The last attacked occurred the following day, Tuesday, February 13th.
Seven officers and a lieutenant were injured after an inmate attacked staff when he refused orders to lock his cell during the morning meal. In the attack, one officer sustained a laceration that needed four
staples to close the wound.
Initially, inmates were let out of their cell for their morning meal and the inmate refused to lock
his cell. When staff ordered the inmate to return to his cell and lock back in, he refused. The
inmate proceeded to barricade the front and rear entrances to the cell block with personal items
from his cell and from the mop sink and flooded the floor with water and poured baby oil on
it. Two cell extraction teams were called and entered the cell block from both entrances. The
inmate grabbed a mop handle and began swinging at officers. As both extraction teams
converged on the inmate, he charged at them, armed with the broom handle. One officer pushed
the inmate back with a shield as staff were able to get the inmate on the floor. Still combative
on the floor, the inmate bit two fingers of one officer as staff attempted to get him into
restraints. Handcuffs and leg restraints were applied after a brief struggle.
The inmate was brought to his feet and refused to comply with orders and walk out of the cell
block. When officers began to carry the inmate, he attempted to kick them, causing one officer
to fall, striking his head on a kiosk. The inmate was placed on a gurney and transported to the
facility infirmary for evaluation.
The officer who struck his head sustained a two-inch laceration to the side of the head. He was
transported to Erie County Medical Center where he received four staples to close the wound. Six officers and a lieutenant sustained hip, shoulder, knee, wrist, rib, back, elbow and hand injuries. They were treated by medical staff at the facility and remained on duty.
The inmate, 32, is serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted in Genesee County in 2020
for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th and Attempted Criminal Possession of a
Weapon 2nd. Previously, he served a three-year sentence in state prison in 2010 after being
convicted in Monroe County for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd and Grand
Larceny 3rd
.
“Two months into the new year and assaults on staff are occurring at a faster pace than last year,
which set a record for the number of assaults on staff. Add fourteen more staff to that growing
list. These attacks by inmates are a daily occurrence. This time an officer with a possible broken
jaw and another with a deep laceration to his head, when is someone going to question why this
keeps happening? Already faced with staffing shortages, mandatory overtime and low morale,
our members are being pushed to the brink with attacks like this at Attica. We are not punching
bags! There aren’t too many professions in this country where you go to work expecting to be
attacked and injured. That is the reality our members face every day and the State Legislature
sits idly by as this occurs. There will come a day, as this violence fails to be addressed, that
someone will be killed at the hands of an inmate and that blood will be on the hands of those
who have the ability to make changes.” – stated Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice
President.
An most of that is pry lies! Officers make to much shit up. Hell half of them should be the inmates themselves. Stop beating on them and then maybe they wouldn’t have to defend themselves!!!!
Another inmate lover heard from. Come and walk in our shoes. Shame on you.
I will never understand why they even allow comments.Everyone knows everything lol they either assume whats happened or just want to shoot their mouths off. Or like you said been arrested or in prison a time or two . But there has been some bad apples and ir effects all officers,guards, unfortunately..But i can tell you this i would not want the job they do. inside those walls with no real protection for themselves .And i will be waiting for the comment (well they chose their jobs.) That saying is bullshit. Thank you to those that are brave enough to do these kinds of jobs!!!!!
Yes, officers do tell the story differently than the actual way it went down to cover their asses 90% of the time, but, they are dealing with some hard criminals that are in for a life sentence and have nothing to lose by getting violent and alot of times it is provoked by smart mouthed CO’s who love to harrass and tantalize the inmates as a form of entertainment, until it backfires. There has to be some changes put in place to protect everyone before things get completely out of hand and there is loss of life of inmates and staff over stupid shit
90% of the time ??!! Are you some kind of expert ?? You are way off base.
Wendy have you ever worked at Attica Correctional Facility? Because you have it backwards. The “incarcerated individuals “ , because we might unfairly stigmatize them and hurt their feelings by calling them inmates, yell and taunt the CO’s for hours upon hours everyday. And they are not allowed to punish the inmates in anyway. They just get away with it. When you are at work do people yell “suck my …., you f…….pussy”? They throw feces and urine at the CO’s, coat the floor with baby oil, they get stabbed at their job. Do you face physical violence at your job? Have you ever been stabbed at work? You say the CO’s choose the job, you should thank them for going to work every day, they are protecting your ungrateful ass.