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| Ariz. Prison Crisis Approaches U.S. Record |
| By The Arizona Republic |
| Published: 01/29/2004 |
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The standoff at Arizona's second-largest prison entered its 11th day Wednesday, making it one of the longest prison hostage situations in U.S. history. "There is a lot of reflection today on the length of time this hostage situation has gone on," said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Cam Hunter on Wednesday. " Late Tuesday night, two armed inmates with violent pasts continued to hold a female corrections officer hostage in a watchtower at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis south of Buckeye. The inmates released a male corrections officer during negotiations Saturday. Since then, little progress has been reported. "None of us thought it would last this long," said Sgt. Joe Masella, president of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association. "We've got to keep our fingers crossed that we can get the other (officer) out." The hostage crisis joins prison incidents in Lucasville, Ohio, in 1993, and Atlanta in 1987, which stretched on for 11 days before resolution. They are the longest prison hostage incidents in at least three decades. Early Tuesday evening, officials negotiated a "visual wellness check" of the female corrections officer in exchange for a package, the contents of which were undisclosed. Before that, they had not seen her since Saturday. The last time negotiators heard her voice was Monday night. Dwayne Fuselier, a retired FBI hostage negotiator, said the fact that negotiators have been able to see and speak to the female officer and secure the release of the other officer are "all classic good signs that negotiations are working." The standoff at the Lewis prison began just after 5 a.m. Jan. 18 when an inmate working in a prison kitchen attacked and severely injured a civilian kitchen worker. Two other corrections officers suffered minor injuries before the inmate and another prisoner seized control of the watchtower. Details as to how the inmates were able to take the tower, the extent of the injuries or the names of those involved have not been released because prison officials have said they don't want to hurt negotiations. Last week, Arizona Corrections Director Dora Schriro called it "one of the most challenging situations that any of us has seen." |
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