Three officers were injured — one seriously — after a chaotic series of inmate fights broke out Tuesday at Cayuga Correctional Facility.
One officer suffered a dislocated shoulder while tackling an armed inmate who tried to flee. Another officer broke his collarbone while subduing that same inmate. Two others were treated for abrasions, neck, and shoulder injuries.
Fights erupt inside dorm during meal movement
The trouble started as inmates were leaving a dorm for their afternoon meal. Two officers saw one inmate slashing at another on the ground. When they moved in, the attacker ran into the bathroom. The injured inmate stood up and immediately started punching a third inmate nearby.
Officers ordered them to stop, but they kept fighting. One was seen making stabbing motions toward the other’s back. OC spray didn’t work at first, but eventually helped bring both under control.
Then, a fourth inmate — unrelated to the initial fight — charged an officer. OC spray had no effect on him either. When he tried to bolt from the dorm, a responding officer tackled him to the ground. That’s when the officer dislocated his shoulder.
All four inmates were handcuffed and removed from the dorm. They were treated and decontaminated at the prison infirmary. One had a facial wound consistent with a cutting weapon.
Two weapons found during investigation
Staff later recovered a six-inch ice pick-style weapon near the dorm. Body camera footage confirmed the fleeing inmate had the weapon and tried to stab the officer who tackled him.
A second weapon — this one with blood on the tip — was found hidden inside a toaster in the dorm.
All four inmates were moved to the Special Housing Unit.
Union leader slams state response to prison violence
Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold said the incident highlights a larger problem.
“Another day, another officer injured who won’t be returning to work for weeks,” he said, pointing to the dislocated shoulder. “These quick-acting officers more than likely saved an inmate’s life while risking their own.”
Gold criticized lawmakers for failing to act on prison violence, asking, “Do we need a staff member to be stabbed to death for this to occur?”
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