BRONX, NY – Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced today the indictment of Bokeem Jones, a 28-year-old Rikers Island inmate, for allegedly attempting to escape the jail while dressed as a New York City Department of Correction (DOC) Officer.
According to the investigation, the incident occurred on July 27, at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center. Jones allegedly entered an area off-limits to detainees, where he found plastic bags containing belongings of Correction Officers, left from when the facility was closed for renovations years ago.
He allegedly found a uniform that fit, donned it, and used an umbrella found in the area to obscure his face.
Jones then reportedly walked past multiple officers, with one even unlocking a door for him to enter the intake area. However, as he made his way to an exit, a Correction Officer became suspicious and asked for his DOC shield. Unable to produce it, Jones was detained.
District Attorney Clark stated, “The defendant allegedly stole a Correction Officer uniform, put it on and was stopped on his way to an exit when an officer grew suspicious and detained him.”
Jones was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Kim Parker on two counts of Attempted Escape in the first-degree, Attempted Escape in the second-degree, and Attempted Escape in the third-degree. He was remanded and is due back in court on November 13.
