An officer on Rikers Island suffered a bloody injury after he was slashed by an inmate with a scalpel blade Sunday morning, according to the Department of Corrections and the head of New York City's jail guard union.
After serving inmate Matthew Whittington his morning meal, the officer went to retrieve the meal tray around 6:40 a.m. when Whittington exited this cell without permission, according to the corrections department and Correction Officers' Benevolent Association President Elias Husamudeen.
Whittington began punching the officer's face and body, according to Husamudeen. A second officer came, who was also attacked by the inmate.
The inmate slashed the second officer on the forearm, according to the DOC and Husamudeen. The injured officer punched the inmate in the face to defend himself.
A scalpel blade, wrapped in black electrical tape, was recovered from the floor in front of the inmate’s cell, according to Husamudeen.
The inmate was arrested following the attack and is facing assault charges, according to the DOC. It was not known if Whittington had obtained any legal representation.
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The two officers were treated at a local hospital and released, the DOC said.
“This morning another Correction Officer was viciously attacked at Rikers by an inmate who has nothing to fear. This follows the Department of Corrections touting their 'reduction' in assaults on officers last week," Husamudeen said. "Today, we are calling on the Mayor to fire the Commissioner before one of our officers is killed."
"I am outraged by this serious assault. Attacks against the hardworking men and women who serve in our department will not be tolerated. Safety is our top priority and we will continue to take every step to ensure the safety and security of our staff and inmates," Department of Corrections Commissioner Joe Ponte said in a statement.
Ponte said the department has ramped up search procedures in an effort to keep out weapons and other contraband. Additionally, it has increased security camera coverage and added emergency response teams to each facility so officers can get help in a hurry.
The DOC also said assaults on staff resulting in serious injuries have dropped by nearly 45% in the first six months of 2016.
An emailed requests for comment from the mayor's office wasn't immediately returned.
