Inmate Faces Assault Charges After Attack At Garner In Newtown: Police

NEWTOWN, CT — An inmate at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown stabbed two Corrections Officers with a filed-down toothbrush, the Connecticut State Police are reporting.

State Police Troop A in Southbury received word from the prison at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 22. Both of the injured correctional officers were taken to Danbury Hospital for medical treatment.

Inmate Joe Baltas, 35, did not report injuries and was transferred to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution following the incident, according to police.

Baltas had been scheduled for handcuff-free out-of-cell time around the time of the attack, according to the report. Corrections staff reported that they had administered a strip search of Baltas through the cell door, which revealed no contraband, prior to opening the cell door.

Based upon witness accounts and a review of available security camera footage, as the cell door opened, Baltas lunged at one of the Corrections Officers standing outside of the cell and struck the officer in the neck with the shank. The injured officer immediately called for assistance, and additional corrections personnel responded.

Baltas fought with staff as they attempted to secure him, and they backed him up into his assigned cell. After securing Baltas, the officers realized that a second corrections officer had been stabbed by the inmate during the struggle, according to police.

During Inmate Baltas' transport to MacDougall-Walker Correction Institution, police say he explained to Corrections Department staff where he had concealed the improvised weapon used in the assault. The toothbrush has since been recovered and taken as evidence by state police.

Baltas also told police that the incident was motivated by perceived differences between correctional facilities where he had been imprisoned. Among other complaints, Baltas alleged that Garner CI enforced more strict limitations on the amount and nature of personal property permitted within an inmate’s cell than Walker CI.

State police obtained an arrest warrant for Baltas on Sept. 20, following an investigation. They served the warrant to Baltas at MacDougall Walker Correctional Institution on Sept. 27, charging him with first-degree criminal attempt to assault of an employee of the Department of Correction, first-degree assault of an employee of the Department of Correction, possession of a weapon or dangerous instrument in a correctional institution, criminal attempt to commit murder with special circumstances, second-degree threatening, and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Baltas refused to provide fingerprints or be photographed during arrest processing and was additionally charged with failure to comply with fingerprint requirements.

The inmate is being held at MacDougall-Walker CI on a $1,000,000 bond, and was scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 29, at Danbury Superior Court.