Trivia: As the detectives are trying to find out from Doug Hutchinson's character where the victim is being held, the detectives find out he is somewhat claustrophobic. They decide to scare him and put him in a cupboard without any light. This is very similar to Doug Hutchinson's character in The Green Mile. The main characters decide to punish him and force him into a dark and small room.
Trivia: Jerry Orbach's son Chris plays Lennie Briscoe's nephew Ken.
Trivia: Mariska Hargitay is a trained rape crisis counselor. She was inspired to pursue her certification, and founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004, after she began receiving mail from fans disclosing, many for the first time, that they were survivors of sexual assault and/or abuse.
Trivia: Reiko Aylesworth, who guest stars as an ADA in the episodes "Contact", "Remorse", and "Slaves", was one of the finalists for the role of Detective Benson.
Answer: I didn't see the show so I don't know the details. A general answer would be because a reckless endangerment charge is easier to prove "beyond a Reasonable Doubt" in court and get a conviction. This charge would not require the prosecutor to prove intent, which would be required for proving aggravated or simple assault. Also, if there were no visible injuries, it is difficult to show bodily injury. Just because the reckless endangerment charge was specifically mentioned, it does not necessarily mean there were not other charges filed. Police often make multiple charges, like lesser-included offenses, so that the defendant's act will fall under one of them if the legal requirements are not met for the others, if they are not sure of the best charge to make (the district attorney knows and can decide), or to have something to plea bargain with.
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