Fighting erupts at downtown Los Angeles jail

[Christina Marie]

Fighting erupts at downtown Los Angeles jail

Wednesday, May 3, 2006


(05-03) 10:30 PDT Los Angeles (AP) --


Violence involving reputed gang members at the downtown Men's Central Jail injured a dozen inmates and a deputy, authorities said Wednesday.


About two dozen members of a Hispanic street gang threw urine and feces at deputies making safety checks and at a nurse making his medical checks around 7 p.m. Tuesday, a Sheriff's Department statement said.


The attacks started on a lower jail tier and spread to an upper tier, authorities said.


Some inmates barricaded themselves in their cells as deputies tried to remove them and the guards responded with tear gas, rubber "stingballs" and pepperball ammunition, the statement said.


A small fire set by inmates also was doused.


The jail was locked down until around 4 a.m. Wednesday.


Twelve inmates were taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries and a deputy was treated for a strained hand, according to the statement.


The cause of the violence was under investigation.


It was the first significant violence since a series of racial brawls involving black and Hispanic inmates resulted in two deaths and more than 150 injuries earlier this year. One inmate died in February at a jail in northern Los Angeles County and another collapsed and died after a February fight in a cell at the Men's Central Jail.



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