Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 72F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..
Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low around 50F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Updated: April 16, 2026 @ 12:00 pm
Riverview Correctional Facility, 1110 Tibbitts Drive, Ogdensburg. Matt Curatolo/Watertown Daily Times
Odensburg — Officers at Riverview Medium Security Correctional Facility have intercepted more than two pounds of marijuana during a contraband investigation and a violent incident involving an inmate assault on staff, the union that represents corrections officers said Thursday.
Riverview Correctional Facility, 1110 Tibbitts Drive, Ogdensburg. Matt Curatolo/Watertown Daily Times
Marijuana Seizure
On March 27, staff responded to a report from the storeroom after an inmate was seen fleeing the facility. A civilian employee had observed the inmate, assigned to assist her, break open a box containing a microwave. He retrieved a black bag from inside the microwave and ran toward a dormitory, ignoring orders to stop.
An officer commanded the inmate to halt, but he continued to evade capture. Reaching a locked dormitory door, the inmate turned back towards the officer, ripping open the black bag and scattering its contents. The officer apprehended the inmate, restraining him with a body hold. Despite resistance, a second officer arrived and successfully handcuffed the inmate. Once restrained, he was compliant and escorted to the infirmary for a medical evaluation.
Staff recovered a green leafy substance, later identified as marijuana, weighing 1.3 pounds from the ground. The contraband, along with the microwave, had been shipped via UPS from a Walmart Distribution Center.
The 32-year-old inmate is serving a 10-to-12-year sentence for Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree after a 2018 conviction in Albany. Following medical treatment, the inmate was relocated to the Special Housing Unit.
One officer sustained hand and shoulder injuries during the incident but remained on duty after receiving medical care. A subsequent search of the storeroom, aided by a K9, discovered an additional vacuum-sealed bag containing 1.15 pounds of marijuana, which was also placed into evidence.
Inmate Assault on Staff
In a separate incident on April 3, a convicted murderer attacked officers in the facility’s infirmary. While being escorted for a routine medical examination, the 34-year-old inmate lunged at an officer, striking him in the face. The inmate then followed the officer into a medical exam room, continuing the assault.
A response was immediately called for assistance. A sergeant attempted to intervene but was pushed to the ground by the inmate. Additional officers arrived as the inmate attacked a second officer, striking him in the face and neck.
Officers deployed OC spray three times; it was only after the third application that the inmate became compliant. He was subdued, handcuffed, and placed in a holding cell.
Both officers involved were treated at the facility and later transported to a local hospital. One officer suffered a left orbital fracture in the incident.
The 34-year-old inmate is serving a 20-to-life sentence for Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree after a 2010 conviction in Kings County. Following the attack, he was transferred to Upstate Correctional Facility.
“This vicious assault and substantial drug seizure at Riverview highlight the daily dangers our officers face and the ongoing attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons,” said John Roberts, Northern Region Vice President of NYSCOPBA. “We are thankful for the civilian employee in the storeroom, whose quick action alerted officers and prevented further drugs from reaching inmates. The swift response of our staff underscores the dedication and bravery of those who serve behind the walls.”
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