OBSERVER file photo Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility.

BROCTON — A 34-year-old inmate, who barricaded himself inside his cell, attacked and cut two officers with a sharped piece of plastic at Lakeview Correctional Facility last week.

The incident took place during the evening meal delivery for inmates locked inside their cells, according to a union that represents the officers.

When staff approached the cell with the inmate’s meal, they observed the cell door window covered with bed sheets, as well as baby powder and lotion. The inmate would not respond to officers. Unable to physically see the inmate, additional staff were called to respond. When more staff arrived at the cell, additional attempts to make contact with the inmate were unsuccessful.

The cell door was ordered opened to check on the welfare of the inmate. When the door was opened, the inmate had barricaded the entrance with his mattress. Officers removed the mattress. Before they entered the cell, the inmate charged at staff. He was pushed back into the cell by an officer armed with a shield. Still combative, OC spray was administered with no effect.

Five officers grabbed the inmate in a body hold as he began to swing wildly at them with an unknown object in his hand. During the altercation, he cut one officer in the chest and neck with the object and a second officer on the chin. One of the officers involved, observed a sharpened piece of plastic in his hand and forced it out of his hand during the attack.

Once the weapon was out of his hand, he was forced to the ground and handcuffs were applied.

Once in handcuffs, he became compliant. He was brought to his feet and escorted to a holding cell.

“It is quite clear that this was a premeditated attack on the officers at Lakeview,” said Kenny Gold, New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association Western Region Vice President. “When inmates barricade themselves inside their cell, obstruct the view of staff and refuse to respond, there is no recourse for officers other than to enter the cell to check on the wellbeing of the inmate. This creates a very dangerous situation for staff when they enter the cell and do not know what they are going to encounter. Lakeview, which is a shock facility, created to help rehabilitate the inmates to return to society sooner has turned into a place that inmates attack officers during their rehabilitation, and have no understanding of consequences. This violence used to be unheard of at this jail. Thankfully, both officers who were cut were not seriously injured more. These are the dangerous situations that the majority of the State Legislature and inmate advocates fail to recognize or acknowledge. Yet, they continue to pander to the violent inmates that regularly attack and injure staff and their ridiculous policies continue to allow it to happen.”

Four officers were injured in the attack. One officer sustained a five-inch laceration to his chest and three-inch laceration to his neck. A second officer sustained a small laceration to his chin and knee and leg injuries. The third officer sustained elbow and wrist injuries. The three officers were transported to Westfield Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The fourth injured officer sustained arm abrasions and was treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty.

The inmate is serving his second stint in state prison for possessing and selling drugs. He was on parole when he was arrested and convicted in Nassau County in 2017 for possessing and selling large quantities of heroin. He currently is serving a 12 year sentence. Previously, he served four- year sentence in 2009 for criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The weapon used in the attack was a piece of a plastic toilet brush that had been sharpened on one end and handle fashioned on the other. A search of the inmate’s cell recovered a second sharpened piece of plastic weapon.