Man Accused Of Stabbing Officers At CT Prison With Toothbrush: DOC

NEWTOWN, CT — Two Garner Correctional Institution officers were rushed to the hospital Tuesday after being stabbed by an inmate with a sharpened toothbrush, the state Department of Correction said in a news release shared with Patch.

Inmate Joe Baltas, 35, of Meriden, is accused of stabbing one correction officer in the neck and another in the torso just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, officials said.

The attacker was immediately secured and taken to the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution’s Restrictive Housing Unit, Department of Correction officials said.

Both officers have since been released from the hospital, according to officials.

Baltas has been in prison at MacDougall-Walker since 2006 and is serving a 95-sentence for murder, according to the Department of Correction.

"As Commissioner, this is my worst fear - that our brave staff members are attacked and injured," Commissioner Angel Quiros of the Connecticut Department of Correction said in the news release. "I rushed to the hospital as soon as I learned of the assault, and thank God, they are all right."

Quiros added, "This is a sobering reminder of the dangers our courageous correctional professionals face on a daily basis."

"We must always remain vigilant," he said. "I am doubling down on my efforts to ensure the
safety of these fine men and women."