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No criminal charges for Rikers guards who failed to save bleeding man, AG says
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 11, 2024
Modified Sep 12, 2024
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By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 11, 2024
Modified Sep 12, 2024
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Three correction officers who watched a man bleed to death on Rikers Island for 10 minutes without helping were found to have contributed to his death, but their inaction did not rise to criminally negligent homicide, a state investigation found.
The report issued Tuesday by the New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation concluded that when correction officers observed Michael Nieves, 40, bleeding from his neck, they dropped a shirt and blanket at his feet, but made no effort to apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
“Although the correction officers’ failure to render aid to Mr. Nieves contributed to his death, a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the correction officers’ failure to aid Mr. Nieves caused his death,” the report said.
Nieves suffered from mental illness and his 2022 suicide came during a year when 22 people died on Rikers, according to the city comptroller’s dashboard. His death also occurred during a staffing crisis — less than a fifth of correction officers had completed the mandated suicide prevention course that year.
Long-standing neglect and mismanagement at the troubled jail includes sexual assaults and failure to get people to court and medical care.
The three correction officers who watched Nieves bleed to death were Capt. Mary Tinsley, Officer Beethoven Joseph and Officer Jeron Smith, according to the report. All three were trained by the city’s Department of Correction to provide first aid and generally required to provide it, but regulations don’t specifically require it. All three declined to speak with investigators.
"Our correction officers involved in this incident followed DOC rules and regulations and did nothing wrong," Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officer Benevolent Association, said in a statement. "We are pleased that after a thorough review of the facts in this matter, the Attorney General's Office has concluded that no criminal charges should be pursued against these officers and that they have been vindicated."
According to the attorney general’s report, criminal charges can be brought when a person “causes the death of another person.” However, Medical Examiner Dr. Kristen Landi told investigators that Nieves required emergency surgery and that applying pressure would have only slowed the bleeding until he was taken to a hospital.
Landi concluded that staff inaction was only partly to blame for Nieves’ death. The attorney general’s office said a prosecutor wouldn’t be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they caused his death.
The attorney general recommended the Department of Correction amend its rules to specifically require officers to help incarcerated people who are bleeding without waiting for medical staff.
“Although we cannot know what was in the minds of the officers,” the report said, “the lack of clarity in their training and in the rules may well have been a factor in their failure to render immediate aid to Mr. Nieves, which, in turn, contributed to his death."
Darren Mack, cofounder of the group Freedom Agenda, which advocates on behalf of people affected by incarceration, said the report underscored the conditions faced by detainees at Rikers Island.
"No one should be sent to a place where guards aren't required — and aren't compelled by their own sense of humanity — to try to save someone who is bleeding to death," Mack said. "But that's the reality of Rikers, and it's why judges should stop sending people there right now."
This story has been updated with comment from the Correction Officer Benevolent Association and Darren Mack.
Tagged
new york city
public safety
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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