Rikers inmate escapes police custody at Manhattan hospital: officials

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) – A Rikers Island inmate escaped from police custody on Wednesday while at a Manhattan hospital, according to the Department of Correction.

James Mossetty, 35, was brought to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue on June 5 for a medical issue before he escaped custody at around 9:40 p.m., officials said. He was last seen running on the FDR Drive, according to the NYPD.

Mossetty was arrested in Manhattan back on Jan. 6. He’s accused of assault, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and theft of services, according to the DOC.

He remained at large, as of Thursday afternoon. The 5-foot6 suspect was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, gray sweatpants, black glasses, and black shoes, police said.

The DOC is working with the NYPD and U.S. Marshals to apprehend Mossetty.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org , downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018 . She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here .

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