Spitting Incident At Garner

A Garner Correctional Institution correction officer was the victim of a “saliva assault” by an inmate March 7 at the high-security prison on Nunnawauk Road, according to state police.

 State police said inmate Shawn Crocker, 25, formerly of New Haven, was being taken from a holding cell about 6:30 am to a transport van, when he became combative and spat in the face of correction officer Alfred Hooker. Hooker was not injured in the incident, state police said.

Hooker received the medical care the Department of Correction (DOC) requires when people are exposed to the bodily fluids of another person, according to state police.

When the incident occurred, DOC personnel were preparing Crocker for transport to New Haven court, where he was to be sentenced on a murder conviction, state police said.

An arrest warrant will be sought for Crocker on charges of assault on a DOC employee and breach of the peace, state police said.