Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
QUEENS, N.Y. — Three city Department of Correction officers and their captain were hospitalized Wednesday after trying to stop a fight between inmates at a Queens courthouse, authorities said.
The fight erupted just before noon between inmates in a holding cell at Queens Criminal Court, where defendants are held before seeing a judge, officials said.
When the four correction officers tried to break up the fight, the inmates immediately turned on the officers, sources said.
A female DOC officer was head-butted as another officer tried to stop the fight by firing pepper spray at the inmates.
The four officers and an inmate were taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Hospital with injuries, including exposure to pepper spray, authorities said.
An email to the DOC for comment was not immediately returned.