Related Federal Cases
Rikers Officer Accused of Brutal Inmate Assault
NEW YORK, NY – A New York City correction officer is facing federal charges after allegedly launching a vicious, unprovoked attack on a handcuffed inmate at Rikers Island. RODINY CALYPSO, a member of the New York City Department of Correction, was arrested today and charged with violating the inmate’s constitutional rights and filing a false report, according to a joint announcement from the Department of Justice and the FBI.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney JOON H. KIM minced no words, stating, “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. 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.”
The alleged assault took place on February 27, 2014, at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center (OBCC) within the Rikers Island complex. The inmate, identified as “Inmate-1” in court documents, was in pretrial detention and held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. The incident occurred while the inmate was being escorted to and from the shower – a process where inmates were handcuffed, briefly uncuffed inside the stall, and then re-handcuffed by officers.
According to the criminal complaint, CALYPSO relieved another officer and engaged in a conversation with the inmate. After a brief exchange, CALYPSO allegedly opened the shower stall door and immediately began punching the handcuffed inmate repeatedly in the face. The assault continued inside the shower stall, with CALYPSO placing the inmate in a headlock and continuing to punch him. Another officer, “Officer-1,” arrived and helped restrain the inmate as CALYPSO regained his footing.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge WILLIAM F. SWEENY JR. emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “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… Today’s charges not only defend the rights of all prisoners to be afforded proper treatment under the law, but also the reputation of those within the criminal justice system who uphold the rule of law.”
CALYPSO is expected to be arraigned in federal court today. The charges against him carry significant penalties, though sentencing will depend on the outcome of the trial. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available, exposing the dark underbelly of the city’s correctional system. [1]
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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