Authorities in New York City have suspended three Rikers Island guards for watching on as a suicidal inmate bled to death Tuesday evening.
Michael Nieves, 40, was declared dead at 9:47 p.m. Tuesday at Elmhurst Hospital after reportedly slitting his own throat.
“Any death in custody is a tragedy and we will be investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident,” DOC Commissioner Louis Molina said announcing the suspension of three uniformed jail employees.
“This is a painful loss. Losing a loved one who is incarcerated is traumatic, and we send our deepest condolences to Mr. Nieves’ family and all those he held dear.”
Advocacy organization Urban Justice revealed that Nieves, who was arrested last June on burglary charges, bled out to death in front of corrections officers and a captain.
“While Mayor [Eric] Adams was publicly questioning whether we should or could send less people to jail, a man with serious mental illness was clinging to life after guards ignored his suicide attempts,” the group said.
“Michael Nieves should have gotten treatment, not the brutality of Rikers.”
