ROMULUS, N.Y. — Tensions are escalating at Five Points Correctional Facility where another violent altercation occurred just weeks after an incident left four officers needing hospital care due to exposure to an undetermined substance. This spree of violence underscores the growing safety concerns within correctional institutions in New York State.
According to officials, a confrontation erupted during a routine security check on March 29 at the maximum-security prison. A sergeant and three officers sustained injuries in a violent scuffle initiated by a 28-year-old inmate wielding a makeshift weapon. The incident began when the sergeant observed an unusual bulge in the inmate’s pocket and initiated a pat-down. Refusing the frisk, the inmate attempted to escape, leading to a fierce physical confrontation during which corrections officers were assaulted multiple times.
The inmate, later subdued and handcuffed, resisted until a spit net was deployed as he attempted to spit at the officers escorting him out. Authorities later confirmed that the weapon involved was a six-inch sharpened toothbrush, which has been secured as evidence.
Further exacerbating concerns, this incident followed closely on another disturbance on April 4, where an inmate, recently returned from a mental health evaluation, assaulted officers while claiming suicidal tendencies. This confrontation triggered symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision among four staff members, with the substance responsible remaining unidentified. Efforts with Narcan failed to alleviate their symptoms, and all affected officers were sent to Geneva General Hospital for further treatment.
The Officer Safety Committee has flagged these recurrent issues with inmate conduct and unknown substance exposure as top security priorities. Talks are underway to enhance precautionary measures and implement stricter controls to curb the smuggling of dangerous contraband into the facility.
Kenny Gold, the Western Region Vice President for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), expressed alarm over the repeated incidents of unknown substance exposure. Gold highlighted the critical need for bolstered security measures to prevent the entry of dangerous substances, stating the urgency of addressing this issue to protect the lives of correctional staff.
Investigations into both violent encounters remain active, with disciplinary measures pending for the inmates involved. Meanwhile, the injured officers from the March incident, including those with facial, head, wrist, and shoulder injuries, are receiving ongoing treatment. One officer’s injuries were substantial enough to require attention at Cayuga Medical Center.
These incidents have rekindled debate over the effectiveness of current security protocols and the challenges officers face in managing high-risk inmates. As such events continue to surface, they provoke discussions on the adequacy of training and resources available to those working on the front lines of the state’s penal system.
As investigations proceed, the community and officials alike wait anxiously for outcomes that could lead to safer working conditions for corrections personnel, presumably deter future altercations and enhance the overall management of inmates posing various levels of threat within the state’s correctional facilities.