Hostage situation ends at S.C. correctional institution

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By Associated Press

Published: 10/30/2003

Authorities say they will seek kidnapping and assault charges against five inmates who took two officers hostage at the Lee Correctional Institution in S.C. Authorities say Corrections Officer Marcus Cotton is in stable condition after he was stabbed in the shoulder. He was taken to Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville and is expected to recover.
Corrections Department Inspector General Charlie Sheppard says the inmates used home-made knives around 5:15 Wednesday afternoon to take over a wing at the maximum security prison. Lee County Sheriff EJ Melvin says the inmates released the hostages and were taken into custody five hours later.
Sheppard says investigators do not know what prompted the incident.
The inmates broke windows in the wing and set off the sprinklers, leaving the area uninhabitable. An inch of water covered the wing after the inmates set off the fire sprinkler system. Glass from several shattered windows were strewn about. Cabbage and biscuits from Wednesday night's dinner were thrown everywhere. And, the inmates had apparently used black paint to draw gang symbols and paint messages on the walls.
Sheppard says the wing houses about 260 inmates. Lee Correctional Institution is a maximum security prison that houses violent offenders or prisoners serving longer terms. Corrections records show the facility had about 1660 inmates earlier this month.
The prison also had a hostage incident in 1999. A teacher and a secretary were held hostage by two inmates for about 13 hours before being released unharmed.
A spokeswoman with the State Law Enforcement Division says the agency sent its SWAT team, helicopter and bloodhounds to the prison.

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