Vermont inmate accused of spitting on utensils served to correctional officers

Vermont inmate accused of spitting on utensils served to correctional officers

A Rutland inmate is accused of deliberately contaminating utensils used by correctional officers. Police say surveillance video captured him spitting into a tray of utensils multiple times.

A Rutland inmate is accused of deliberately contaminating utensils used by correctional officers. Police say surveillance video captured him spitting into a tray of utensils multiple times.

An inmate at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland is facing charges after Vermont State Police say he intentionally contaminated utensils that were later provided to correctional officers.

Vermont State Police said Department of Corrections staff contacted investigators after reviewing surveillance video from the facility’s kitchen overnight on Aug. 3.

According to police, 34-year-old Dylan S. O’Neil of Rutland was working as an overnight kitchen staff member and preparing food and utensils for meals served to on-duty correctional officers.

Investigators said video showed O’Neil holding a tray of utensils near his face before making deliberate facial and head movements consistent with spitting onto the utensils. Police said O’Neil appeared to spit into the tray about 13 times while moving the contents around, allegedly attempting to contaminate as many utensils as possible.

The utensils were later included with meal trays delivered to 10 correctional officers working the overnight shift, according to police.

O’Neil was issued a citation Wednesday charging him with attempting to assault 10 correctional officers by exposing them to bodily fluid, specifically saliva.

He was transferred by the Department of Corrections to the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. DOC officials said O’Neil had been held at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility because of underlying federal charges.

O’Neil is scheduled to appear in Rutland Criminal Court on Sept. 14.

Vermont State Police said the affidavit of probable cause will be released following his arraignment.