A gang-affiliated accused murderer slashed a Nassau County correction officer in the neck this week inside a Long Island jail, allegedly using the victim’s own uniform name tag as a weapon, union officials said Friday.
The officer was escorting inmate Westley Witts to the mental observation housing area in the Nassau County Correctional Facility just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday when the Bloods gang member allegedly pulled the officer into the cell and assaulted him, according to union officials.
As a second officer responded, three other inmates — two of whom were also known gang members — allegedly ran into the cell and began attacking both officers, officials said.
Witts, 31, then allegedly slashed the first officer with a metal name tag — which he ripped from the victim’s shirt during the attack, officials said.
The officer was left with a several-inch long gash along the right side of his neck.
Witts was locked up in early March on a murder charge, jail records show.
“There has been a dramatic increase in violence in our facility with fights and several slashings over the past several weeks as County Executive Laura Curran and Sheriff James Dzurenda continues a dramatic consolidation of this facility, following the reckless release of inmates resulting from bail reform and COVID-19,” said Nassau County Sheriff Correction Officers Benevolent Association President Brian Sullivan.
He continued: “I am calling for the inmate who slashed our officer to be immediately charged with attempted murder, and along with the other inmates, charged with gang assault.”
The county executive’s office did not immediately respond for comment.
A rep for the Sheriff’s Office confirmed the details of the incident.
“Sheriff [James] Dzurenda’s primary concern is the safety of all staff and inmates within facility and the Department is conducting a full review of this incident,” the spokesperson said.