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| Officers hurt in S.C. prison incident |
| By The State |
| Published: 01/16/2004 |
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Two correctional officers were injured Thursday during a prison disturbance and a small fire at Broad River Correctional Institution in South Carolina. Prison officials hope to know by today how an inmate managed to escape from his cell and free up to 12 other inmates. The assaults occurred around 5 p.m., while an officer was serving dinner to an inmate in an area of the prison known as the Saluda Unit, said Charles Sheppard, inspector general of the state Department of Corrections. The unit houses inmates known for causing trouble. The inmate took the officer's keys and released as many as 12 other inmates from their cells, Sheppard said. Another officer in the unit also was assaulted. The officers who were attacked used tear gas to try to regain control and stop the assaults, Sheppard said. Both officers were able to get out of the unit with the help of another officer. The two were taken to Palmetto Health Richland with non-life-threatening injuries. They were released later, officials said. Their identities and the nature of their injuries were not available Thursday night. Another inmate started a fire in a different area of the Saluda Unit about 30 minutes after the disturbance began, Sheppard said. The fire, which caused no significant damage, was extinguished by a sprinkler and is under investigation, authorities said. By 5:50 p.m., 65 officers had reestablished order in the area where the disturbance began. The area in which the fire started was under control by 6:30 p.m. Columbia fire crews helped clear the building of a chemical agent, said Battalion 2 Chief Kirby Bishop. Some inmates who complained of smoke and tear gas inhalation were treated at the prison infirmary. The prison was under lockdown Thursday night. The Broad River Correctional Institution is a high-security institution designed to house violent offenders serving long sentences. |
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