Rodiny Calypso, Assault, New York 2023

Rikers Island Cop Charged in Assault

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim and FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. announced charges against Rikers Island correction officer Rodiny Calypso, accused of punching and elbowing an inmate in the head and face without provocation while the inmate was handcuffed behind his back.

According to the complaint, Calypso allegedly stepped away from the door and spoke to a fellow correction officer one level down within the dorm area, then picked up some personal items the inmate had dropped outside of the door through the port. Calypso then rear-cuffed the inmate for removal and briefly looked down in the direction of the other officer before punching the inmate several times in the face.

Calypso followed the inmate into the shower area, putting him in a headlock and punching him several more times in the head. He began to lose his footing at this point, clinging to the inmate’s side. Officer-1 arrived in the stall at this point, restraining the inmate as Calypso regained his footing.

‘Rodiny Calypso allegedly violated a Rikers Island inmate’s constitutional rights by viciously beating him – without physical provocation – while the inmate was restrained in handcuffs,’ Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said in a statement. ‘As we have said before, the protections of our Constitution extend to those in prisons, and this Office will remain vigilant about protecting the rights of all, including those confined within the walls of Rikers Island.’

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. added, ‘Today, Rodiny Calypso, a New York City Correction Officer, is charged with subjecting an inmate to cruel, unnecessary, and inappropriate punishment—behavior that simply won’t be tolerated. The rules that apply to the appropriate use of force are specific and clear, and the vast majority of those within the law enforcement community are quick to adhere to them.’

Calypso was arrested this afternoon on charges contained in a criminal Complaint and is expected to be presented in federal court later today. The incident occurred on February 27, 2014, at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, where Inmate-1 was housed in pretrial detention.

The investigation was led by the FBI, with assistance from the New York City Department of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

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