NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A man was pronounced dead while in New York City custody Tuesday, the second detainee to die in under a week, officials announced Wednesday.
William Brown, 55, was in custody on Rikers Island at the Anna M. Kross Center when he was found to be in “medical distress,” Department of Correction officials said.
CPR was administered to Brown, but he was pronounced dead Tuesday at 11:46 p.m.
Brown had been in DOC custody for exactly a month when he died.
“I am devastated to know that another person entrusted in our care has passed away. We will work diligently to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. My deepest sympathy goes out to Mr. Brown’s loved ones,” said DOC Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi.
This is the 16th death of a person in New York City custody this year — that number includes two people who received a compassionate release.
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Brown’s death comes just days after Michael Boatwright, 28, died after also being detained at the Anna M. Kross Center for about a month, and was transferred to Bellevue Hospital on Dec. 9. He was pronounced dead on Dec. 10 due to a "medical issue.”
Pressure to make sweeping changes at Rikers has become a massive topic of conversation this year, with politicians including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman calling for its closure.
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Manhattan City Councilman Keith Powers reacted to the news of the latest Rikers death, calling it a “humanitarian crisis.”
He called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to “bring in outside help to provide immediate assistance to staff housing units, medical clinics, intake facilities, & more.”