Lakeview Correctional Facility in Brocton

BROCTON — A civilian counselor and correction officer were injured in what is being called “a brutal attack” by a 34-year-old inmate serving a seven-year sentence for drug possession in Lakeview Correctional Facility. The incident occurred Monday inside a classroom and escalated quickly.

The attack began when the inmate, initially seated in his chair, suddenly sprang up and approached the counselor, striking her repeatedly in the face and head. As the counselor attempted to retreat, the inmate continued to assault her, she fell and struck her head on a metal desk and then she fell to the floor, still under assault. The officer outside the classroom immediately called for a response while the counselor attempted to defend herself, kicking the inmate in the legs and groin to fend him off.

“This inmate was previously involved in a four-man inmate on inmate fight on February 4 inside an unrestrained classroom and was extracted from a restraint chair last December 30th from a classroom and yet he keeps being let out unrestrained,” said Kenny Gold, state Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association Western Region Vice President. “This was a callous and savage assault on both the female civilian counselor and the officer during a routine program. Without the actions of the officer who ultimately suffered a concussion, the civilian female counselor could’ve been hurt worse or possibly killed at the hands of an inmate who is not afraid of any repercussions. My thoughts go out to our member who did everything he could to make sure this situation didn’t end up worse, as well as the civilian counselor and her family.”

Additional officers responded to the scene, but the inmate refused to comply with commands. One officer managed to subdue the inmate in a body hold but was repeatedly punched in the back of head as the inmate broke free. Despite multiple applications of pepper spray to the inmate’s face, the chemical agent had no effect.

One officer deployed pepper spray, which immediately incapacitated the second inmate, causing him to return to his chair. The first inmate, however, remained combative, and it took four officers to restrain him and force him to the ground. Once under control, the inmate was handcuffed and escorted to a holding cell for decontamination. He was later transferred to Attica Correctional Facility.

Both the counselor and officer were treated by medical staff at the facility. The counselor sustained injuries to her jaw, neck, and head, while the officer suffered swelling and pain to the back of his head. Both were transported to Westfield Hospital, where medical staff diagnosed the officer with a concussion. A second officer, who was injured while assisting in the inmate’s restraint, was treated for shoulder and elbow injuries at the facility.

The inmate was convicted of third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in Niagara County in 2024.

This most recent attack comes one year after a strike by corrections officers at locations that included Collins and Brocton regarding safety concerns within the walls.

“I do not know how many times we can plead with the lawmakers to allow for the use of mechanical restraints in these disciplinary units that were created after HALT was implemented,” Gold said. “We are begging to be allowed to restrain inmates for the safety of staff and inmates alike so they can get the programs they need, yet every conversation falls on deaf ears. The legislators are in session, and they need to immediately address not only restraining the convicted, but they also need to make it their priority to address the recommendations of the HALT committee to make it safer for everyone that works and lives inside state prisons. Their inaction will most certainly get an employee killed!”