A suspect accused of assaulting a nurse was on life support Thursday night after attempting to kill himself in a holding cell at Manhattan Criminal Court, sources said.
Anthony Scott, 58, used clothing to try to hang himself after being arraigned and remanded to Rikers Island around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, according to police sources and DOC officials.
The attempted suicide happened downtown at 100 Centre Street, which houses Manhattan’s Central Booking detention center and the court.
The prisoner was in the custody of Department of Correction guards when he tried to hang himself, according to the sources, who said it’s unclear why the officers did not notice and intervene.
“This individual was found unresponsive in a Manhattan Court admission cell yesterday and was taken to the hospital,” DOC Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi told The Post.
“The safety and wellbeing of those in our care is of paramount importance and our thoughts are with them and their family.”
Scott was arrested Wednesday for second degree assault. He was being held on $15,000 bail, records show.
Five suspects have killed themselves while in Department of Corrections custody in 2021. Christopher SadowskiThe suspect has 136 prior arrests, according to sources.
Five suspects have killed themselves in DOC custody so far in 2021, a higher number of suicides than in the past five years combined, according to data released Thursday by a federal monitor.
