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| Negotiations Continue With Ariz. Inmates |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/20/2004 |
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A prison standoff on the western edge of Phoenix, Ariz. dragged on into its third day Tuesday as two inmates continued to hold a pair of correctional officers captive in an officer tower stocked with weapons. Corrections officials were in contact with the inmates by phone and said Monday they continue to believe the two officers have not been seriously harmed. Cam Hunter, a state Corrections Department spokeswoman, said that while authorities have not had visual contact with either the officers or inmates, they are hopeful nothing has changed. The hostages include a male correctional officer who was injured. Officials did not release details of the injury, but said the other hostage, a female correctional officer, was not believed to be hurt. The two captives were allowed to speak with negotiators and reported they were not seriously injured, Hunter said. The tower is believed to be stocked with weapons, prison officials said. Until the crisis is resolved, the 4,400 other inmates at the medium- to high-security Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis remained locked in their cells. Authorities would not say whether the inmates had made any demands or threats, and would not disclose whether they were armed or why they were in prison. The standoff began Sunday morning after an inmate attacked an officer in the prison kitchen. The prisoner and another inmate then got into an observation tower where the two officers were stationed. Officials said it was unclear whether the standoff resulted from a botched escape attempt. Two officers and a staff member were initially injured by the inmates, authorities said. Phoenix Fire Department spokeswoman Rebecca Dauer told The Arizona Republic that one person was severely hurt. Earlier this month, unrest broke out among about 80 inmates at the prison west of Phoenix. Three officers suffered minor injuries and two small fires were started. |
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