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State Police are investigating the death of a 22-year-old inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility near Utica. The inmate was pronounced dead at a hospital on Saturday (March 1) after being taken from the prison. His identity has not been released pending family notification, and the cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.
According to Newsmax, the inmate was reportedly beaten by officers after leaving his cubicle for the shower area. Witnesses claimed he was crying and later heard saying, "I didn't do anything. You're really hurting me. Stop!" before being shackled and dragged away with a swollen and bloodied face. The inmate was serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
The incident occurred during a wildcat strike by corrections officers, which began on February 17. The strike, focused on dangerous working conditions and staffing shortages, has led to the deployment of National Guard members to replace striking officers. This death marks the fifth reported in the prison system since the strike began.
The New York Attorney General's Office is conducting a preliminary review of the death. The Mid-State Correctional Facility, located in Oneida County, has faced scrutiny due to past allegations of inmate abuse, including a recent case where officers were charged with the death of inmate Robert Brooks at the nearby Marcy Correctional Facility.