CT inmate allegedly attacks doctor and officer, weeks after he’s charged with stabbing officers
A Connecticut inmate with a history of assaulting correction and public safety officers is facing charges after allegedly striking a physician and a corrections officer on Wednesday, state police said.
Troop H responded to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield on Wednesday around 11:21 a.m. for a reported assault on a correctional officer and medical personnel, according to the Connecticut State Police.
Man in prison on murder conviction charged in stabbing of two CT correction officers
State police said inmate Joe Baltas, who is currently serving a life sentence on a murder conviction, allegedly struck a Department of Correction physician in the chest and pinned him up against the wall.
The 35-year-old was immediately secured by DOC staff and put into restraints, according to state police. When he arrived at the restrictive housing unit, Baltas reportedly slipped a restraint and punched a correction officer twice in the face and once on the shoulder with his fist and his restraint, state police said.
He was again restrained, according to state police.
The correction officer was transferred to UConn Medical Center for minor injuries, state police said.
Baltas was charged with two counts of assault on public safety personnel. His bond was set at $50,000 and he is schedule to appear at Hartford Superior Court on Thursday, according to state police.
Baltas currently has a $1,000,000 bond and facing assault charges in connection with an August stabbing of two correction officers at a prison in Newtown.
On Aug. 22, Baltas allegedly stabbed corrections officers at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown with a filed-down toothbrush, according to state police. Both correctional officers were transported to Danbury Hospital for treatment, state police said.
Baltas was transferred to MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution following the incident.
Following an extensive investigation, Danbury Superior Court, on Sept. 20, approved an arrest warrant for Baltas in that incident, charging him with first-degree criminal attempt to assault 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 processing and was additionally charged with failure to comply with fingerprint requirements.