Prisoners Take Guards Hostage

COXSACKIE, N.Y. — Thirty-two prisoners at a maximum-security state prison took five guards hostage today, complaining they had been harassed by the officers, a Corrections Department spokesman said.

One of the five men taken hostage suffered a head injury in the takeover, which occurred about 10:30 a.m., and there were reports of other injuries, said spokesman James Flateau. The extent of the injuries was not known. No medical personnel were allowed to enter the prison by inmates. Prison Supt. John Twomey, assisted by a crisis intervention team, was communicating with some of the inmates, Flateau said.