FIVE YOUTHS INDICTED FOR FELONY ASSAULTS ON NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OFFICERS AT HORIZON JUVENILE CENTER

A Sixth Is Charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that five youths have been indicted in four assaults on NYC Department of Correction Officers at Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx during October 2018, after they were transferred there from Rikers Island. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants, while incarcerated at Horizon Juvenile Center, allegedly attacked Correction Officers during four separate incidents. In one incident, an officer’s nose was fractured and in another, an officer was punched, lost consciousness and suffered a concussion. Violence will not be tolerated in any jail or detention facility.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendants were arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary. They were charged with varying degrees of Assault in four indictments. Three defendants are charged with Attempted Gang Assault in the first degree; if convicted they could face up to 15 years in prison.

 The defendants are due back in court in February and March 2019.

 According to an indictment, on October 3, 2018, defendant Zahkari Bennett, 17, allegedly struck an officer numerous times with a closed fist, causing him to lose consciousness and fall, hitting his head and body on a table and chair. Bennett is charged with second-degree and thirddegree Assault and Obstructing Governmental Administration.

 According to an indictment, on October 4, 2018, defendant Jaheem Ware, 17, allegedly picked up a garbage can and attempted to throw it inside a housing area, but officers stopped him. As they were restraining Ware, defendant Rennie Patterson, 17, came up behind an officer and allegedly punched him in the head twice. Patterson is charged with second-degree and thirddegree Assault and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration. Ware is charged with second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration and third-degree Menacing.

 According to an indictment, on October 27, 2018, defendants Juneal Jackson, 18, Alfred Burns, 17 and Rennie Patterson, 17, allegedly punched an officer multiple times, and then broke broom handles and struck the officer with them. They are charged with Attempted Gang Assault first-degree, second degree and third-degree Assault, and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration.

 According to an indictment, on October 7, 2018, Jayquon Coleman, 18, allegedly threw a Correction Staff radio in the face of an officer, causing a displaced fracture of the officer’s nose. He is charged with second-degree and third-degree Assault and second-degree Obstructing governmental Administration.

 District Attorney Clark thanked the DOC’s Correction Intelligence Bureau and Correction Investigator Timothy Fries for their assistance in the investigation.