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News Release from: Oregon Dept. of Corrections
Posted: September 13th, 2007 11:10 AM
Prisoner transport delayed because of inmate fight
At approximately 9:00 this morning, several inmates who were being transferred between two Oregon prisons unilaterally attacked a fellow inmate in an Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC)transport van on I-84 near milepost 13 in Troutdale. There were six inmates and two staff in the transport van. The inmate who was attacked sustained injuries that include a possible broken arm and bruises.
The inmates were all serving disciplinary sanctions and were part of a routine swap of six inmates from Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem to Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario.
As the van traveled down I-84 near Troutdale, at least two inmates attacked and kicked another inmate for reasons that have yet to be determined. Inmates are restrained during transports using handcuffs and leg irons. The two correctional staff escorts immediately ordered the inmates to stop fighting and called for assistance from the Oregon State Police.
The van pulled over to the side of the highway and the two DOC staff issued a warning that they would use pepper spray if the inmates did not stop their attack. The inmates ignored the warning, so the officers left the van and issued another warning. During transports, inmates are secured discretely from officers and at no time were they outside the secure custody of the officers. The inmates continued their attack so Officer Scott Fink then sprayed the aggressors.
The inmates continued to ignore the orders and the pepper spray did not have the desired effect. Sergeant Tony Broadus unholstered his Taser electronic control device and warned the inmates that the Taser would be used. The inmates immediately stopped fighting and were compliant and cooperative.
An Oregon State Police trooper and officers from Gresham and Fairview Police Departments responded and found the situation under control. Together the police and correctional officers removed one inmate who had the most serious injuries which appeared to be a broken arm. Under two-officer escort, that inmate is receiving medical attention.
The van with the remaining inmates were transported to an area detention center for temporary custody until additional DOC transport vehicles can return the inmates to prison.
Because DOC segregation units are full, the six inmates from Oregon State Penitentiary were being exchanged for six SRCI segregation inmates. The transport from SRCI was stopped in eastern Oregon and those inmates will be temporarily housed at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla until the original transport plan is completed.
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