Refused a Jail Visit, Man Assaults Sergeants

A Carmel man who became violent after an inmate at the Putnam County jail refused to see him now faces a felony charge of assault on two Sheriff’s Department sergeants.

At 1:30 p.m. Jan. 9, Sergeants Michael Szabo and Matthew Monroe responded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility for a report of a man who was refusing to leave the lobby, County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reported.

John A. Groissl, 59, of 21 Fowler Avenue, Carmel had attempted to visit a female inmate who refused to accept the visitation request, and he was refusing to leave.

Corrections staff had directed the man to leave the facility lobby several times, which the man refused, continuing to disrupt facility operations. The sergeants repeatedly attempted to persuade the man to leave the premises and warned him that he would be arrested if he did not comply. When the man continued to refuse the sergeants’ orders, he was informed that he was under arrest.

When the man continued to refuse to comply, the sergeants attempted to physically place his hands behind his back, and the man responded by attempting to strike the sergeants with a closed fist. The sergeants, with the assistance of other officers, took the man into custody while he continued to fight them and resist arrest.

Monroe, Szabo, and Groissl were all treated at Putnam Hospital Center for injuries sustained in the altercation and were released. Monroe suffered abrasions and pain to both his knees, Szabo suffered an

abrasion to his left knee and pain to his left hip, and Groissl suffered an abrasion to his face.

Groissl was charged with Assault in the Second Degree, a felony, in addition to charges of Trespass, a violation; Obstructing Governmental Administration, a misdemeanor; Resisting Arrest, a misdemeanor; and Disorderly Conduct, a violation.

He was arraigned at the Town of Carmel Justice Court and committed to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000.00 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

If found guilty of the felony charge, he could face up to seven years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $5,000.