Latest Attack On Staff Injures Six In Collins, Two Seriously (2024)

A photo of one of the officers involved in the Friday incident.

COLLINS – The latest in a string of attacks on staff of the Collins Correctional Facility has injured six officers, including two seriously.

New York State Corrections Officers & Police Benevolent Association report a 35-year-old inmate serving a nine-year sentence for assault and attempted robbery, violently attacked staff on Friday morning. An officer was observing inmates leaving the mess hall after breakfast. He asked one inmate to produce his state issue ID. The inmate refused to produce his ID for the officer and suddenly punched the officer in the left side of the face. A second officer immediately grabbed the inmate in a body hold. The inmate violently resisted and spun out of the body hold and punched the second officer in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Two additional officers responded and grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground. On the ground and still combative, OC spray was administered to the inmate with no effect. Staff were eventually able to force the inmate’s arms behind his back and apply handcuffs. Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant. The inmate was escorted from the area. During the escort, he kicked one officer in the leg.

Body holds were again applied and he was forced to the ground, where he continued to kick at officers. Once under control, the inmate was escorted off the unit and transferred to Attica Correctional Facility.

He was convicted in Kings County in 2017 for first-degree assault, first-degree attempted robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

A photo of one of the officers involved in the Friday incident.

“Initially, this was just another routine day for officers at the facility. But, as we have learned, there is nothing routine anymore in our prisons. In an instant events can turn violent as we learned again last Friday,” said Kenny Gold, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President. “A simple request from an officer for an inmate to produce his identification turned so violent that six officers were injured, four officers, who have yet to return to work, needing additional treatment in outside hospitals and urgent cares. I don’t believe anyone would categorize a concussion, fractured cheekbone or losing hearing in one ear as minor injuries. Even after the inmate was transferred to Attica Correctional Facility he remained violent, attacked and sent another officer to the hospital at that facility.”

In total, six officers were injured in the attack. The first officer assaulted sustained pain and swelling to his jaw, back and hand. He had hearing loss in his left ear. He was transported to Bertrand Chaffee Hospital for treatment. He did not return to duty.

The second officer who was assaulted and knocked to the ground sustained a broken cheekbone, concussion, fracture bone in his hand, knee, forearm, back and neck injuries. He also had a tooth knocked out. The officer was transported to Erie County Medical Center for treatment and he was kept for observation. The officer has not returned to work, nor released from the hospital from his injuries.

Four officers sustained injuries subduing the inmate. Their injuries included knee, forehead abrasions, shoulder, hand, back and foot pain. One of the officers was treated at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital and a second officer was treated at a local urgent care.

“These men are husbands, fathers, members of the community-not punching bags for inmates who know that certain members of the legislature care more about them than the employees who go to work every day hoping they will make it home to their families. This officer has yet to leave the hospital, does someone have to get killed before we see change?” Gold said. “The sad reality is, this inmate, who has a history of disciplinary infractions since being incarcerated, is eligible for parole next year. Unless he is prosecuted for this violent attack on staff, the parole board needs to seriously question his ability to be productive individual in society. If not, more than likely he will hurt someone again, as he has already proven.”

More than a dozen officers were injured at Collins Correctional Facility between May 1 and 12. In April, four separate incidents involving drugs led to minor injuries for a sergeant and seven officers at the location.