State prison in Yuma on lockdown after 600 inmates riot
The Arizona State Prison Compex in Yuma was placed on lockdown Thursday night after a riot broke out involving 600 inmates, the state Department of Corrections said.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page late Thursday, the agency said the incident took place in the Cheyenne Unit about 6:45 p.m.
About 600 inmates threw rocks, set fires to mattresses and other property outside on the yard, and broke into the prison health unit, the corrections statement said. Inmates attacked prison personnel, officials said.
All employees were safe and accounted for.
Arizona Corrections✔@AZCorrections Tonight's inmate disturbance at ASPC-Yuma is under control and all personnel are safe. We have information posted on ADC's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AZCorrections/posts/1977611269225762 …
Tactical teams from the agency's Yuma, Lewis and Tucson complexes worked to bring the disturbance under control by 9 p.m., the statement said.
The inmates involved were said to be contained and remained on the fenced recreation yard Thursday night as corrections personnel conduct assessments, officials said.
"The department will thoroughly investigate all facets of this disturbance and will seek additional criminal charges for any inmates involved in violent activity,'' the statement said.
Additional information was not immediately available.