Weapon found in gang member's cell,Riani, is a member of Chicago-based street gang Gangster Disciples, according to the sheriff's office.

James Riani wasn't just blamed for punching another inmate last week.

The detective who investigates crimes in the jail issued an arrest affidavit Tuesday stating Riani was caught with a 3-inch piece of metal in his cell.

Hernando County Sheriff's Detective Anthony Scarpati said the metal object – which had a string tied to the end of it and was hidden inside an air-condition exhaust vent – could have been used as an escape tool.

Either that or he could have used it as a weapon, Scarpati wrote.

The latest arrest comes days after he was charged with battery of a fellow inmate. Riani was accused of taking off his shirt, barging into another man's cell and accusing him of stealing from him.

He followed that by punching the man twice in the face, which caused the victim to lose consciousness, deputies said.

Assistant State Attorney Jason Smith, who is prosecuting Riani, said he considers him a dangerous criminal.

"Based on his history, I think that's reasonable to assume," Smith said.

Riani, a known gang member who goes by the nickname Wicked, was arrested in September 2010 on a litany of felony charges.

Deputies said Riani, 31, was seen riding a stolen motorcycle near his house the night he was arrested.

He tried to elude deputies, but fell off the bike, according to the sheriff's office.

After he was captured during a foot pursuit, he pulled out a 9mm handgun from his waistband, but it fell to the ground, deputies said.

He was searched and a loaded 9mm magazine was found tucked under his waistband, according to arrest records.

Deputies said they searched his backpack and found more weapons – including a loaded .40-caliber handgun and a 12-gauge shotgun with a filed-off serial number.

Aside from his weapons and drug counts, Riani also was charged with possession of a concealed handcuff key.

His trial is scheduled for Aug. 8, but most of his original charges have been dropped.

Smith said the U.S. District Attorney's Office might be pursuing the drug trafficking and weapons case against Riani.

However, Smith is still prosecuting the defendant for three felony charges related to his September 2010 arrest. Those charges are possession of a handcuff key, grand theft and habitual driving with a suspended or revoked license.