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| Ariz. Prison Hostage Situation Continues |
| By The Arizona Republic |
| Published: 01/23/2004 |
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One at a time, each of the corrections officers stepped onto the observation deck of a watch tower Thursday afternoon. She raised her right arm. He stated his name and serial number. Both then disappeared back into the tower. For five days now, negotiators at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis have worked to get the officers safely released from their inmate captors. For five days now, they've had to settle for the infrequent glimpses of the officers on the top of the tower and the occasional voice over the radio. Late Thursday the negotiations were "at a critical juncture," said Ivan Bartos, warden of the State Prison Complex-Yuma. "Whatever is being discussed right now is important," Bartos said. "I don't know if it's going to make or break the negotiations." Negotiators keep talking even as fatigue threatens to make the inmates more volatile. On Wednesday, the inmates lobbed a gas canister from the tower and pointed an AR-15 rifle out the hatch. The outbursts were blamed on weariness and nerves. "Each word that they say and each time they have contact is very important," prison spokesman Patrick Gibbons said. "There is no rush. Protection of life and prevention of injuries is really the key to success." Prison officials insist they are still making progress and say it's an accomplishment just to maintain communication. Negotiators used a robot to deliver lunch to the tower Thursday and, earlier in the week, filled the inmates' request for such "comfort" items as coffee and water, toothpaste and soap. The officers have been held since 5 a.m. Sunday when two inmates breached the tower after a melee in a kitchen at the Lewis prison complex. State officials have not been releasing information about the hostages, their inmate captors or details of how the incident began because they said they are concerned about the impact on negotiations. The inmates have access to a wireless radio and a television, officials said. The tower they are in is designed to be secure for those inside it, forcing prison officials to rely on negotiations instead of tactical intervention. |
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