LANSING, NY (607NewsNow) — A Dryden man is accused of hitting a corrections officer.

Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne says two inmates at the county jail got into an argument on Jan. 26 that turned physical. 37-year-old Matthew Skardinski is accused of trying to punch the other inmate but struck an intervening officer instead.

Skardinski was arraigned on a charge of felony assault and was sent back to jail. The CO was injured but was able to de-escalate the situation, the sheriff said.

“The Sheriff’s Office takes assaults on staff seriously and remains committed to ensuring the safety of both employees and those in custody,” Osborne said.