November 22, 2024
FROM THE STATE PRISON GUARD UNION, NYSCOPBA:
Elmira, NY – An inmate, serving his second stint in prison in five years, attempted to grab an officer’s gun inside the emergency room at a local hospital injuring a sergeant and two officers who had to subdue him before he was able to remove the handgun from the officer’s holster.
On Friday, October 25, the inmate was transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center for treatment. After treatment at the emergency room, two officers approached the inmate to apply restraints for the trip back to Elmira Correctional Facility. The inmate suddenly grabbed one of the officer’s handgun and attempted to remove it from the holster while shoving the second officer away. Both officers quickly placed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to down onto the emergency room bed. The inmate continued to struggle with the two officers as they applied handcuffs.
After the incident was contained, the inmate was transported back to the facility. When they arrived at the facility, the inmate refused orders to exit the van. Staff used body holds to force the inmate out of the van and carry him to the infirmary as he continued to struggle and fight with them.
Once in the infirmary, the inmate became compliant.
The two injured officers sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries. They were treated by medical staff at the facility.
The inmate, 28, is serving a four-year sentence after being convicted for Assault 2nd in Clinton County in 2024. Previously, he was sentenced to prison in 2019 for Disseminating Indecent Material to a Minor in the 1st Degree.
In addition to that incident, staff recovered a make-shift weapon used in an inmate-on-inmate attack inside the recreation fieldhouse on Sunday, November 17. During morning recreation, staff observed a large group of inmates congregating near the picnic tables. Officers observed four inmates fighting each other. Several orders were given to stop but were ignored. As the fight escalated, chemical agents were introduced into the fieldhouse. The chemical agents had the desired effect, and the inmates stopped fighting. The inmates were removed from the fieldhouse and decontaminated.
One inmate was treated for a laceration consistent with a cutting style weapon. After the fieldhouse was cleared staff conducted a search of the fieldhouse and recovered a sharpened plastic ice pick type weapon from the floor.
“We are very fortunate that the two officers in the hospital acted quickly and stopped the inmate from gaining access to the officer’s handgun. A situation like that can escalate quickly and it puts not only the officers in danger, but the medical staff and civilian patients in the emergency room as well. Yet members of the legislature like Erik Dilan don’t believe it’s soon enough to make changes to the HALT Act, which takes all repercussions away for bad behavior, as you can see at Elmira, the inmates are not only attacking officers, the inmate on inmate violence is at an all-time high as well. This is a prime example of no fear from a bolden criminal that could have devastated a community had these officers not been vigilant. Couple that with mandatory overtime, short staffing, and historic levels of violence in our prisons, it is no wonder why members are retiring or resigning in droves. They feel underappreciated and overlooked by our elected officials who continue to coddle and advocate for inmate rights yet ignore the very men and women who protect them.”-stated Kenny Gold, Western Region Vice President.
