#19th death reported in troubled NYC jails
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“19th death reported in troubled NYC jails”
An inmate died on Rikers Island over the weekend — marking the 19th death in New York City’s troubled jail system so far this year, officials say.
Edgardo Mejias, 39, died around 5 p.m. Sunday inside the Anna M. Kross Center, according to the city’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 said in a statement.
Mejias was jailed Oct. 1 with four open criminal cases against him involving charges of robbery, grand larceny and petit larceny from this year.
In two of the cases, bail was set at $10,000 and $5,000, according to the court records. In the other two, bail was $1.
The Office of the City Medical Examiner will determine Mejias’ cause of death.
His death will also be investigated by the state Attorney General’s Office.
The Legal Aid Society, the city’s largest legal aid nonprofit, had pushed for a federal takeover of the violence-plagued jail system last month.
But a Manhattan federal judge quickly denied the request, saying that while she is deeply concerned about safety issues at Rikers, such a takeover might divert resources away from inmates.
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