Defendant Attacked CO, Causing Spine and Hip Injuries
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for assaulting a Correction Officer in a Rikers Island jail.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant, who was an inmate, approached the Correction Officer and refused verbal commands to step back, then repeatedly punched her until she was left bleeding and severely injured. If you attack a Correction Officer, we will hold you accountable. We had recommended a consecutive sentence but the court, over our objections, made the sentence concurrent to a prison term he is serving for a Manhattan case.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Zaki Smith, 31, was sentenced on June 27, 2022 to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree Assault on March 23, 2022.
According to the investigation, at approximately 10:56 a.m., inside the Anna M. Kross Center, inmate Smith approached the Officer and started to threaten her. Smith refused orders by the Officer and continued to advance towards her. The Officer then deployed her pepper spray and ran towards the exit with Smith in pursuit. The Officer fell to the ground and Smith proceeded to get on top of her and repeatedly struck her in the head with closed fists.
As a result of the defendant’s actions, the Officer suffered several lacerations to the forehead, which required stiches, as well as a swollen nose and swollen eye sockets, a herniated disc and a tear in her hip. She suffered mental anguish as well and is in physical therapy for her injuries. Body camera footage captured the brutal attack as well as the threats made by the inmate to the officer’s life.
District Attorney Clark thanked Correction Intelligence Bureau Investigator Daniel Monaco for his assistance in the case.
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