A large fight involving nine inmates on Christmas Day prompted a correction officer to fire a warning shot after a crowd of inmates began advancing toward staff at Coxsackie Correctional Facility, according to a union press release.
Officers spotted the fight around 2 p.m. Dec. 25 in the facility’s center yard. Seven inmates were fighting against two others. Officers gave repeated verbal orders for the inmates to stop and get on the ground, but the group ignored those commands and continued fighting.
Officers deployed OC spray, which stopped five of the inmates. The remaining four continued to fight and were taken to the ground using physical restraint techniques.
As officers worked to regain control, a large group of uninvolved inmates in the yard became hostile and began moving toward staff. At the same time, inmates from other areas of the yard started running toward officers.
Because high winds made chemical agents ineffective, the officer assigned to the yard tower fired a warning shot into a designated safe area of the yard as the threat escalated. After the shot, the tower officer ordered all inmates to move to the wall. Officials say inmates complied, allowing staff to restore order.
Once the yard was secured, inmates were escorted back to their housing units. The nine inmates involved in the original fight were taken to the infirmary for evaluation but refused treatment. Officials documented minor injuries to each inmate.
Four inmates were placed in special housing pending disciplinary charges. The remaining five were housed in the residential rehabilitation unit.
Several staff members suffered minor injuries, including back, knee, shoulder, and elbow strains. Medical staff treated the officers, and all remained on duty.
Union officials praised the response, saying quick decisions by staff prevented further escalation during a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation.
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