A Rikers Island detainee who died in February had 121 pills and multiple synthetic drugs in his cell, according to a new city oversight report that highlights ongoing failures by jail officials to secure housing areas and respond to medical emergencies.
The Board of Correction’s First Report and Recommendations on 2025 Deaths in Custody, released Wednesday afternoon, details the Feb. 19 death of 38-year-old Ramel Powell, who died at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center after acute intoxication from a powerful synthetic cannabinoid known as MDMB-4en-PINACA.
The watchdog agency said its findings underscore an overall pattern of noncompliance with basic safety protocols on Rikers Island and a lack of urgency when responding to medical emergencies…