Riot at Vacaville prison injures three inmates, one officer

The Reporter — More than fifty inmates at California State Prison, Solano, were involved in a riot Monday morning, sending three inmates and one correctional officer to a hospital outside prison grounds.

Just before 7:10 a.m., inmates began fighting on one of the institution’s Level III medium-security yards, according to the prison’s public information officer Lt. Marlaina Dernoncourt. In all, she said, 58 inmates were involved in the fight.

Correctional officers used pepper spray and less-than-lethal force options to stop the fights, Dernoncourt said. Staff from California Medical Facility (CMF), located next door, also responded.

Three inmates were injured during the fights. They were taken to a hospital outside the prison for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

One officer was treated and released from an outside hospital for an injury he sustained after being knocked down by inmates while responding to the incident.

One weapon made by an inmate was recovered by prison staff.

To facilitate the investigation, inmate movement and programming were being limited throughout the day on Monday.

The prison was going to be partially locked down prior to the riot, as inmates were undergoing annual testing for tuberculosis, Dernoncourt said. continue reading...