Romulus, NY — A recent altercation at Five Points Correctional Facility has left a sergeant and three officers injured, marking the second violent incident at the maximum-security prison in less than a month. On March 29, during a routine security check involving a metal detector, an inmate reportedly resisted a pat frisk, leading to a violent confrontation with corrections staff.
The incident began when a sergeant noticed an object protruding from the inmate’s pocket and requested a frisk. The inmate, a 28-year-old serving a 12-year sentence for robbery and assault convictions from Erie County, refused and attempted to flee. He subsequently engaged in a violent struggle, assaulting the officers multiple times in the head and face. The corrections team managed to subdue and handcuff the inmate, who continued to display aggressive behavior, even attempting to spit on the officers until a spit net was applied.
Officers recovered a six-inch-long sharpened toothbrush from the inmate, who has since been placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges. The injuries sustained by the corrections staff included facial, head, wrist, and shoulder trauma, with one officer requiring further medical treatment at Cayuga Medical Center. The sergeant involved suffered knee injuries during the encounter.
This latest conflict follows an earlier incident on April 4, where a 26-year-old inmate, after being returned from the mental health unit, assaulted corrections officers and displayed self-destructive behavior. The staff used non-lethal measures to manage the situation, which left four officers suffering from nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. Substances exposed to the officers during this incident remain unidentified, with administered Narcan showing no effective result.
Kenny Gold, Vice President of the NYSCOPBA Western Region, expressed deep concern about the repeated incidents of violence and substance exposure. He highlighted the urgent need for improved measures to prevent contraband from entering the facilities.
The back-to-back violent episodes underscore the ongoing risks faced by corrections officers and ignite fresh concerns about safety and security within the state’s prison system. The episodes spotlight the challenges of managing high-risk inmates and the omnipresent danger of contraband within prison walls.
Investigations into both incidents continue, with authorities keen on tightening security protocols and ensuring the safety of both staff and inmates in New York’s correctional facilities. These incidents raise serious questions about existing procedures and the necessary reforms to prevent future occurrences.