An attack at Five Points Correctional Facility began with a punch to the head and escalated when two more prisoners joined in, kicking the victim and making stabbing motions before correction officers intervened, according to a detailed account released by the officers’ union.
The Nov. 3 assault at the Romulus prison left one prisoner with cuts to his face, neck and arm. Subsequent searches uncovered a nonfunctional paper imitation gun, and one prisoner later surrendered a ceramic razor believed to have been used in the attack.
The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association’s account provides additional detail about the confrontation and officers’ response to the assault first reported earlier this week.
Fight escalated during programming
An officer monitoring programming in the prison’s Residential Rehabilitation Unit saw one prisoner approach another and punch him in the head, the union said.
The two began exchanging punches and ignored repeated orders to stop.
Two additional prisoners then joined the attack. The union described the victim being kicked in the upper body while another prisoner made stabbing motions toward him.
Additional officers responded after a facility response was called. One officer secured the prisoner initially attacked in a body hold and pushed him against a wall.
The three prisoners accused of participating in the attack eventually complied with orders to place their hands against the wall. Officers handcuffed them and removed them from the unit.
The injured prisoner was taken to the prison’s medical facility, where staff treated cuts to his cheek, nose, chin, forearm, neck and ear.
The union said the injuries were consistent with a weapon that had not been recovered at that stage of the response.
Cell search uncovered paper imitation gun
Officers subsequently searched the prisoners’ cells.
In the cell occupied by the two prisoners who joined the initial confrontation, officers found a fabricated gun measuring approximately 9 by 12 inches, according to the union.
The object was constructed from paper and included a magazine and an attached light pointer. It could not function as a firearm.
Five Points Correctional Facility
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Both prisoners were subsequently placed in the Special Housing Unit. While there, one surrendered a black ceramic razor that the union said was believed to be the weapon used in the assault.
The release does not describe the paper imitation gun being used during the attack.
Officers secured the recovered items as evidence.
Union praises officers’ response
NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold cited the incident as an example of the violence and contraband correction officers confront inside state prisons.
“Our members are expected to maintain order and protect everyone inside these prisons, while risking their own safety,” Gold said.
He praised the responding officers for following their training and making the facility safer.
The release does not identify the prisoners involved or announce criminal charges.
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