NEW YORK (1010 WINS/ WCBS 880 NEWS) –An inmate at Suffolk Correctional Center in Riverhead on Long Island was charged with violent felony assault on Thursday after allegedly attacking a correction officer, according to reports.
Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. of Suffolk County shared details on Thursday of the incident and the video in which the attack was captured on Dec. 29, 2023, according to Newsday.
In the video, Steven Reid III, 27, is captured running towards the officer, 26, and punching him in the face in the Riverhead jail facility.
"One punch, two punch, three punch,” Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. of Suffolk County told CBS.
Toulon stated that the incident was an "unprovoked attack, unnecessary attack."
Reid, a Bloods gang member from Calverton, who is awaiting trial for attempted murder which occurred during a July candlelight vigil, attacked the officer as he was opening a gate for another inmate, Toulon told Newsday.
Reid's frustration over a delay in receiving a hygiene product was allegedly the cause of the attack.
"Assaulting an officer is never the appropriate action for not receiving a hygiene product in time,” Louis Viscusi, president of the Suffolk County Correction Officers Association, told CBS.
The officer who was attacked has a laceration of the lip, swollen nose, bruised wrist.
He is still getting treatment, Toulon said.
According to CBS, Toulon’s statement comes in response to a social media post by Reid's mother, who claimed her son was attacked by guards and intended to sue.
“I am the first person where my officers do something wrong to make sure that we have corrective action,” Toulon said. “But when they do something, you see an inmate … viciously assault a correctional officer … I will not stand for it, or the discredit of any member of service when they are doing the performance of their job.”
Toulon explained that the videotape shows that the officer did everything in his power to be calm, cool, and restrained. He then took some blows from this individual.
The officer used pepper spray to subdue Reid, as per protocol, and Reid was later subdued with a stun gun.
He was then examined and released by medical staff.
Reid faces up to 7 years on the assault charge, Suffolk County Chief Assistant District Attorney Allen Bode said, according to Newsday.