RIKERS ISLAND INMATE INDICTED FOR STARTING FIRE IN HIS CELL, SLASHING TWO NYC DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION OFFICERS

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Rikers Island inmate has been indicted on Arson and Assault charges for allegedly starting a small fire in his cell and slashing two Correction Officers who responded to put it out. 

District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly put detainees and DOC staff at risk by starting a fire in his cell. He allegedly slashed two officers who were attempting to rectify the situation.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Anthony Taveras-Morales, 24, was arraigned January 16, 2025, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood on second-degree Arson, third-degree Arson, six counts of second-degree Assault, three counts of first-degree Promoting Prison Contraband, fifth-degree Arson, fourth-degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of thirddegree Assault, three counts of fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, three counts of second-degree Promoting Prison Contraband, and two counts of second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration. The defendant was remanded and due back in court on April 3, 2025. 

According to the investigation, on December 17, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., at the Rose M. Singer Center Enhanced Supervision Housing, the defendant allegedly lit combustible material in the food slot of his cell. A DOC Captain responded and ordered the defendant to extinguish the fire. Taveras-Morales allegedly ignored those orders and placed additional combustible material on the fire. The captain used pepper spray and attempted to enter the cell with assisting DOC officers. Upon entering, two Officers were each slashed on the hand allegedly by the defendant, with a sharp object. A sharpened piece of plastic, a 6-inch nail, and a scalpel were recovered in the defendant’s cell.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYC DOC Officer Investigators Korab Hansangjekaj, Epifanio Vasquez, James Ruiz and Walter Holmes from the NYC DOC Intelligence Bureau for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.