ALDEN, N.Y. (WKBW) — The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) says six officers were injured in attacks at the Wende Correctional Facility and synthetic marijuana was found inside vegetables mailed to an inmate.
On the evening of April 7 an officer was making rounds in the facility when he was punched in the head and face several times by an inmate according to NYSCOPBA. The inmate was placed in mechanical restraints by the officer who was initially attacked with the help of two other officers and placed in a special housing unit.
NYSCOPBA says the officer that was initially attacked sustained a broken nose, a second officer sustained a cut to the hand, they received treatment at an outside hospital and were released. Two other officers were injured and were treated by facility staff and remained on duty.
On April 13 an officer was processing a package mailed to an inmate when a green leafy substance was found inside of two bell peppers. The substance was tested positive for synthetic marijuana, weighed 40 grams and was mailed from Rochester, N.Y. NYSCOPBA says the drugs were seized and the investigation is ongoing.
The second incident occurred the morning of April 15 when an inmate became disruptive in his cell. NYSCOPBA says the inmate stated he was going to hurt himself, he was taken from his cell for observation. The inmate's mechanical restraints were removed so he could be frisked for contraband, he then struck an officer in the face and broke the officer's glasses.
The officer who was initially struck and two other officers took the inmate under their control. NYSCOPBA says the three officers were exposed to blood, two of them were injured and went to an outside hospital for treatment and were released.
“Even as the state deals with this pandemic, assaults on staff and contraband continue to occur inside our state prisons," said Mark Deburgomaster, Western Region Vice President. "Our members are on the front line risking their health and safety every day and we should not lose sight of the fact that attacks on staff are still occurring and inmates continue to attempt to smuggle drugs in through mailed packages. I am extremely thankful that the officers that were attacked in the two assaults were not seriously injured."
