Correction Officer Stabbed: Grand Jury Indicts Amar Bell – A Cayuga County grand jury indicted an incarcerated man following an assault reported at Auburn Correctional Facility in March.
An Auburn Correctional Facility assault left a correction officer with three puncture wounds, according to New York State Police. Investigators say a grand jury has now indicted Amar Bell, 49, in connection with the incident. The charges are allegations; a conviction has not been reported.
The serious nature of the incident has sparked significant media attention, highlighting the dangers faced by correction officers. As the case unfolds, the term ‘Correction Officer Stabbed: Grand Jury Indicts Amar Bell’ has become synonymous with this alarming event.
What investigators say happened
State Police said Bell, who was incarcerated at Auburn Correctional Facility at the time, approached an officer during evening meal movement in March. Investigators allege that he struck the officer in the face and then stabbed him three times with a homemade weapon.
The officer sustained one puncture wound to his upper left arm and two to his upper left back, according to the police release. He was taken to Auburn Community Hospital for treatment. Police did not provide an update on his condition.
Correctional staff recovered what police described as a “homemade, icepick-style weapon.” Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage. State Police conducted the investigation with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigations.
Grand jury indictment and charges
Police said a Cayuga County grand jury indicted Bell. On September 18, 2026, he was taken to Cayuga County Court and then to the State Police barracks in Auburn for processing before being returned to corrections personnel.
The State Police release lists three felony charges:
- Second-degree assault, a class D felony.
- First-degree possession of dangerous prison contraband, a class D felony.
- Attempted aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, a class E felony, as described in the release.
The release does not state a plea, a trial date or the outcome of the case. An indictment is a formal accusation and does not establish guilt.
We will follow further court proceedings and report any confirmed developments.
