An inmate died on Rikers Island over the weekend — marking the 19th death in New York City’s troubled jail system to this point this yr, officers say.
Edgardo Mejias, 39, died round 5 p.m. Sunday contained in the Anna M. Kross Center, in response to the town’s Department of Correction.
“Mr. Mejias’ passing fills our hearts with sadness, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to all who held him dear as we recognize how hard it is to lose a loved one during the holidays,” DOC Commissioner Louis Molina stated in a press release.
Mejias was jailed Oct. 1 with 4 open legal circumstances towards him involving expenses of theft, grand larceny and petit larceny from this yr.
In two of the circumstances, bail was set at $10,000 and $5,000, in response to the courtroom information. In the opposite two, bail was $1.
The Office of the City Medical Examiner will decide Mejias’ reason for loss of life.
His loss of life may even be investigated by the state Attorney General’s Office.
The Legal Aid Society, the town’s largest authorized support nonprofit, had pushed for a federal takeover of the violence-plagued jail system final month.
But a Manhattan federal decide rapidly denied the request, saying that whereas she is deeply involved about issues of safety at Rikers, such a takeover would possibly divert assets away from inmates.
