Overcrowding at the Skagit County Jail helped spark a fight between five inmates last Wednesday night that injured three corrections officers, deputies said.
The fight broke out in "E pod," a section of the jail built for 12 inmates that houses 27, around 8 p.m., sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Will Reichardt said.
Inmates told investigators that three of their pod-mates were attempting to dominate the section by controlling which shows would be watched on the television, as well as other inmates' access to the recreational facilities, Reichardt said.
A fourth inmate told officers that he objected to the attempts by the group trying to control the pod. He said he explained to the three Mount Vernon men - ages 21, 23 and 26 - that inmates took turns watching various television shows, Reichardt said.
When the three men confronted him, the inmate returned to his cell and the men followed, starting the fight, Reichardt said.
A fifth inmate jumped in to help the objecting inmate defend himself. The two men are a 43-year-old from Mount Vernon and a 41-year-old from Everett.
The fight was controlled by the three male officers within a few minutes, Reichardt said.
One deputy was punched in the head, suffering a fat lip and a bump, Reichardt said. A second was scratched and bruised. The third injured deputy broke his ankle while trying to break up the fight.
Deputies have referred the incident to the county prosecutor's office to determine whether charges should be filed.
In addition to the jail being overcrowded, there are not enough deputies to meet the facility's needs, Reichardt said.
Deputies learned that trouble in E pod had been brewing for a couple of days. Reichardt said.
The fight might have been prevented if the jail had enough deputies working directly with the inmates and discussing possible disputes, he said.
"We had adequate staffing to respond to the fight," Reichardt said. "But the fight may never have happened if we had had more deputies."