The Citizen, Auburn, N.Y.
CAYUGA, N.Y. — An officer at the Cayuga County Jail was injured in an alleged assault last month by an individual incarcerated there.
In a news release Tuesday, the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office said that Deputy William Ruff was making rounds at the jail at about 9:15 a.m. May 7 when he was attacked by inmate Harold J. Calkins, 39, using weapons made from contraband items. Calkins sprayed a substance in Ruff’s eyes to distract him, the sheriff’s office said, then slashed and stabbed at his head and neck multiple times.
Ruff sustained injuries that required immediate medical attention at Auburn Community Hospital as well as ongoing treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
The assault was presented to a Cayuga County grand jury by the district attorney’s office, resulting in an indictment for Calkins for two counts of second-degree assault (a Class D felony). He was arraigned Tuesday by Judge Jon Budelmann, who ordered that Calkins be remanded to the custody of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision until his next court appearance.
Calkins was in the jail for violations of parole and a conviction for third-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
“I would like to commend and thank Deputy Ruff and all of our Custody Division staff for the difficult and dangerous jobs they do behind our jail walls every day,” Sheriff Brian Schenck said in the release.
“Incidents like this have become increasingly common at both the local and state levels, highlighting the growing risks faced by those who work in our custody facilities. We owe Deputy Ruff — and everyone who performs this challenging job — an immense debt of gratitude. Their efforts are vital to maintaining public safety.”
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