NEW FIGHTING BREAKS OUT AT PITCHESS JAIL BRAWL AMONG BLACKS, LATINOS QUELLED WITH USE OF TEAR GAS.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer CASTAIC - Despite stepped up security at Pitchess Detention Center A detention center or a detention centre is any location used for detention. Specifically, it can mean:
``Deputies quickly responded and controlled the situation after deploying three tear-gas canisters,'' said Deputy Alba Yates. ``There was only one moderate injury. The inmate was treated at the facility.'' The large fistfight followed rioting at two of the center's three jails over the weekend that left one inmate dead and dozens injured. The rioting triggered a lockdown Lockdown A specified period when an employee of a public company is barred from selling - and occasionally buying - their company's stock. Notes: These types of equity transaction restrictions can be imposed by securities regulators or underwriting firms if a company has of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County jails that continued Monday as authorities attempted to defuse tension in the 21,000-inmate system. The two minimum-security dormitories at the 1,500-inmate North Facility, where 180 fought late Sunday, joined the North County Correctional Facility North County Correctional Facility (NCCF) is a Los Angeles County Jail, run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Located approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, it is one of four jails located within the Pitchess Detention Center (named after former in lockdown, sheriff's officials said. About 400 Latino and African-American inmates from both jails have been segregated, which is legal during emergencies. ``They're only allowed out of their cells in an emergency situation,'' sheriff's Deputy Tania
The inmates who fought late Monday had not been segregated, Yates said. She said the fighting broke out about 9:10 p.m. in an open dorm and ended a few minutes later when deputies fired tear gas tear gas, gas that causes temporary blindness through the excessive flow of tears resulting from irritation of the eyes. The gas is used in chemical warfare and as a means for dispersing mobs. at the inmates. Eight inmates suffered minor to moderate injuries in Sunday's melee, which came a day after rioting by more than 2,000 at the maximum-security North County jail killed 45-year-old Wayne Tiznor and injured at least 46, some critically. Investigators are trying to determine if the two incidents are connected. ``We'll know more in a few weeks,'' sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. Other county jails, including Men's Central Jail and Twin Towers in Los Angeles, were in ``modified'' lockdown - inmates are only allowed out of their cells for medical visits, attorney consultation and court appearances, sheriff's Sgt. Paul Patterson Paul Patterson (born 1947) is a British composer. He studied trombone and composition at the Royal Academy of Music. He has since taught there for many years, first as Head of Composition and Contemporary Music, then as Manson Professor of Composition where he organized an said. Visiting hours were suspended, and it was not known when the lockdown and segregation orders will be lifted. Sheriff Lee Baca has blamed the incidents on a high inmate-to-guard ratio due to budget constraints, along with racial and gang rivalries carried over from the streets into jail. ``The sheriff and his investigators are convinced it has to do with what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. in the streets in South Los Angeles South Los Angeles is the official name for a large geographic and cultural area lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central Los Angeles, and is still sometimes called South Central. ,'' Whitmore said. ``It may well be gang-motivated as well as racially motivated.'' Baca has said the county Sheriff's Department has just 5,000 staffers for some 20,000 inmates, compared with New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , which has a staff of 12,000 for 15,000 inmates. Steven Remige, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, said ``drafting,'' or holding deputies in to work extra hours to maintain adequate staffing, remains a common practice. ``Drafting goes on pretty much on a daily bases,'' said Remige, also the union's board member. ``We have guys getting ready to go home, and ... they're not getting out. Once they get the spots filled, the doors open.'' Whitmore said jail officials at the Pitchess complex met Monday to determine how to best handle the crisis, with some deputies working overtime to keep the peace. Asked how the Sheriff's Department can prevent violent outbreaks, Whitmore said: ``There is never a way to guarantee anything. There are only best practices, and the Sheriff's Department (conducts) ... out of necessity.'' Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com |
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