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| Negotiators Get Glimpse of Ariz. Hostages |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/21/2004 |
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Negotiators trying to resolve a four-day prison hostage crisis caught their first glimpse of the two corrections officers being held inside an officer tower and said they appeared to be physically unharmed. The sighting of the officers helped reassure both their family members and prison officials while negotiations continue, said Cam Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections. The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday that negotiators also spoke to each officer briefly on a radio. No deadline has been set to end discussions, she said. Hunter said that the inmates made some minor demands on Monday for coffee and water, which they received. The standoff began Sunday morning after an inmate at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis attacked an officer in the prison kitchen. The prisoner and another inmate then got into an observation tower where the two officers, one male and one female, were stationed. Prison officials had initially said the male officer was injured, though they did not disclose details of the injury. The identities of the inmates and officers have not been released because negotiators fear it could jeopardize the talks. Until the crisis is resolved, the 4,400 other inmates at the medium- to high-security prison remained locked in their cells. While other prisons in Arizona haven't been locked down, authorities are monitoring them more closely as inmates learn about the crisis, said Gov. Janet Napolitano on Tuesday. The governor said state officials will need to examine details of the case to determine whether changes are needed at prisons. "But now is not the time to do that," she said. Officials said it was unclear whether the standoff resulted from a botched escape attempt. The motive will likely remain unclear until authorities are able to fully investigate, Hunter said. The officer tower, in the middle of the prison grounds, is believed to be stocked with weapons. Authorities would not say whether the inmates had made any threats. |
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