Jahmal Lightfoot, a former inmate at Rikers Island, has been granted a $3.9 million settlement with the city. It has been six years since Lightfoot was beaten by correctional officers, which resulted in a broken nose and two fractured eye sockets. Since then, the erstwhile convict reveals how the pain of that incident continues to linger in his mind. "When I see any police officer or a person in a uniform in the street, I get nervous," Lightfoot admits.
The ex-convict had been awaiting a sentencing for a robbery he committed back in 2012 while imprisoned. However, Eliseo Perez Jr., a former Rikers Island employee, ordered an attack on Lightfoot in order to teach a lesson to the other inmates in response to a bout of jail stabbings.
Following the incident, Perez Jr., former Capt. Gerald Vaughn, alongside officers David Rodriguez, Tobias Parker, Jose Parra and Alfred Rivera were found guilty of their crimes in a Bronx court back in 2016. They have been charged with assaulting Lightfoot, as well as fabricating evidence that their victim was involved in a contraband scheme.
Vaughn had reportedly told his co-conspirators that he wanted to see Lightfoot's "teeth on the floor," according to a trial testimony.
"I want all the officers — correction and police — to know they cannot beat on people and think you can get away with it, it’s not right . . . I could have lost my own life," reveals Lightfoot. "I just want people to know there’s going to be consequences for officers doing these things to people, and I hope this has an impact."