Post by AW2B on Aug 8, 2005 20:41:06 GMT -5
Major Inmate Riot Erupts At San Quentin
POSTED: 12:36 pm PDT August 8, 2005
UPDATED: 6:33 pm PDT August 8, 2005
SAN QUENTIN -- A preliminary investigation into a racially motivated riot at San Quentin State Prison this morning indicates that there were 70 participants and 39 inmates injured.
Sgt. Eric Messick today classified the riot, which took place at around 8:30 a.m. just after breakfast, as "an escalation of the problem we had," referring to a several violent incidents between Hispanic and white groups of inmates that prompted a prison lockdown Aug. 1.
Several fights between white and Hispanic inmates broke out this morning in four dorms facilities of the general population portion of the prison, forcing about 50 prison officers to scatter pepper spray to stop the riot.
Three inmates were seriously injured and taken to outside hospitals for treatment and several others were treated for injuries at the prison. None of the injuries were deemed life-threatening, Messick said.
The groups involved in today's melee will remain on lock-down for "the foreseeable future ... at least for the remainder of the week and probably longer," Messick said.
An investigation is under way at this time that should indicate "who the aggressor was, if it was a coordinated event . . . or if it was a domino effect," Messick said.
"A major disturbance can bring out all the major players, we could possibly find and remove the problem (inmates)," Messick said. "You always gotta crack a few eggs to make an omlette."
The racially motivated fighting has been going on for some time, which is what prompted last week's lockdown. Two separate incidents took place where a white inmate was attacked by a group of Hispanic inmates and another incident took place where a Hispanic inmate was battered by a group of white inmates. Messick said a fourth incident was thwarted by prison staff and "today we weren't as lucky."
"An investigation will be conducted to identify the combatants," which could lead to their removal from the prison, Messick said.
About 1,700 to 1,800 inmates live in the area where the riot took place. The crimes the inmates have committed range from probation violation to murder.
The last riot of this nature occurred in 2000, Messick said.
www.ktvu.com/news/4823716/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_02490108082005
POSTED: 12:36 pm PDT August 8, 2005
UPDATED: 6:33 pm PDT August 8, 2005
SAN QUENTIN -- A preliminary investigation into a racially motivated riot at San Quentin State Prison this morning indicates that there were 70 participants and 39 inmates injured.
Sgt. Eric Messick today classified the riot, which took place at around 8:30 a.m. just after breakfast, as "an escalation of the problem we had," referring to a several violent incidents between Hispanic and white groups of inmates that prompted a prison lockdown Aug. 1.
Several fights between white and Hispanic inmates broke out this morning in four dorms facilities of the general population portion of the prison, forcing about 50 prison officers to scatter pepper spray to stop the riot.
Three inmates were seriously injured and taken to outside hospitals for treatment and several others were treated for injuries at the prison. None of the injuries were deemed life-threatening, Messick said.
The groups involved in today's melee will remain on lock-down for "the foreseeable future ... at least for the remainder of the week and probably longer," Messick said.
An investigation is under way at this time that should indicate "who the aggressor was, if it was a coordinated event . . . or if it was a domino effect," Messick said.
"A major disturbance can bring out all the major players, we could possibly find and remove the problem (inmates)," Messick said. "You always gotta crack a few eggs to make an omlette."
The racially motivated fighting has been going on for some time, which is what prompted last week's lockdown. Two separate incidents took place where a white inmate was attacked by a group of Hispanic inmates and another incident took place where a Hispanic inmate was battered by a group of white inmates. Messick said a fourth incident was thwarted by prison staff and "today we weren't as lucky."
"An investigation will be conducted to identify the combatants," which could lead to their removal from the prison, Messick said.
About 1,700 to 1,800 inmates live in the area where the riot took place. The crimes the inmates have committed range from probation violation to murder.
The last riot of this nature occurred in 2000, Messick said.
www.ktvu.com/news/4823716/detail.html?treets=fran&tml=fran_break&ts=T&tmi=fran_break_1_02490108082005