TOWN OF MALONE, New York (WWNY) – A third incident sends staff members at Upstate Correctional near Malone to the hospital where Narcan was administered and it sends the facility into lockdown.
According to union officials, at least 4 staff members were sent to the hospital Tuesday night after being exposed to something inside the prison. Union officials add Narcan was used at the hospital after being lightheaded and vomiting. Some staff don’t remember what happened.
Wednesday, the state announced Upstate Correctional would enter lockdown saying it’s for the safety and security of staff, inmates and the community. The prison will undergo a full search which will include bringing in drug sniffing dogs. Visitations have been suspended. The state says, “The safety of our staff and those in our custody and care are a top priority.”
The search is ongoing and will take several days.
John Roberts, Northern Region Vice President for the NYS Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, supports the lockdown, which was requested by the union, and adds, “Enough is enough and we need to find the cause of this issue before someone dies.”
Tuesday’s incident is the third one connected to an unknown substance that has sent more than 2 dozen staff members to the hospital. Union officials believe it’s related to a synthetic drug that has gotten inside prison walls.
See earlier reporting here where one incident affected 20 staff members: https://www.wwnytv.com/2025/01/23/upstate-cos-treated-after-foreign-substance-found/
Unrelated to Tuesday’s exposure call, union officials tell 7NEWS another correction officer was hurt when he was inside a cell and grabbed an unknown device which blew up in his face and caused burns.