A Rikers Island inmate has been charged with attempted murder after he beat up a New York City corrections officer — punching and kicking the guard in the head even after he passed out.
Rashidi Smith, 41, was apparently furious at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday after he told a prison guard he would be picked up that day — and the CO replied he would have to wait until the main office opened to call for Smith’s release, according to the criminal complaint against him.
Smith – who was locked up on assault charges – allegedly assaulted the officer, punching him in the face four to five times and slamming his head into a chair, Correctional Officers Benevolent Association (COBA) president Benny Boscio said in a press release.
He continued to hit the guard even after the CO fell unconscious, hitting him in the head “more than half a dozen times” and kicking him in the head, Boscio said.
The brutal beating was stopped after another guard used a “chemical agent” on Smith at the Otis Bantum Rikers Correctional Center, according to the union.
“This brutal and unprovoked attack could have killed this officer just for doing his job,” Boscio said.
Randi Smith, 41, knocked an unidentified corrections officer (above) unconscious after “punching the officer four to five times in the face and then slamming the officer’s head into a chair.” NY Daily News
The union released a photo of the officer, who was seen wearing a neck brace and mask, and appeared to be sleeping.
The guard suffered a wound to the back of his head, as well as hematoma and swelling, and was left without any feeling in the fingers of his right hand and the rest of his left arm. He also suffered “significant pain” in his back, neck and head, according to the complaint.
He is awaiting test results to determine if he has spinal or neck damage.
The attack was stopped after another corrections officer used a “chemical agent” on Smith inside the Otis Bantum Correctional Center.
Department of Corrections Commissioner Louis Molina condemned the incident, saying in a statement: “Any act of violence against our officers will receive swift consequences. The entire DOC team wishes the officer a full recovery, and I would like to commend the second officer who intervened and stopped the attack.”
Smith was arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court on Thursday and ordered held without bail. He is due back in court Tuesday.
Reports of disturbing conditions at Rikers Island have led to increased threats of a federal takeover of the city’s prison system.
The prisoner was initially locked up on assault charges.Matthew McDermott
Earlier this month, reports revealed that NYC lockups experienced a 25% decrease in staff compared to two years ago.
The city employs 6,257 uniformed officers, down from 8,388, according to figures from NYC’s Independent Budget Office.
At least seven inmates have died in custody this year, with several staff facing suspensions in connection with the deaths.
Nineteen inmates died in 2022.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
