Rikers island inmate indicted for arson and slashing correction officers

Rikers Island inmate indicted for arson and slashing correction officers

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1 min read
January 17, 2025

BRONX, N.Y. — A Rikers Island inmate has been indicted on multiple charges, including arson and assault, after allegedly starting a fire in his cell and slashing two New York City Department of Correction officers who responded to the incident, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced.

Anthony Taveras-Morales, 24, was arraigned Tuesday before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood on charges including second-degree arson, six counts of second-degree assault, and multiple counts of promoting prison contraband. He was remanded and is scheduled to return to court on April 3.

On December 17, 2024, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Taveras-Morales allegedly ignited combustible material in the food slot of his cell at the Rose M. Singer Center’s Enhanced Supervision Housing. When a DOC captain ordered him to extinguish the flames, Taveras-Morales reportedly escalated the situation by adding more material to the fire.

Correction officers used pepper spray and attempted to enter the cell, at which point Taveras-Morales allegedly slashed two officers on the hands with a sharp object. A sharpened piece of plastic, a 6-inch nail, and a scalpel were later recovered from his cell.

“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.

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