Several prison staffers and one inmate were injured Jan. 31 in a riot involving about 200 inmates at the Ironwood State Prison in Riverside, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The riot started about 10 a.m. as prison staff were escorting an inmate across the yard, where other inmates were exercising, as part of a contraband investigation, according to the department.
“The person being escorted headbutted a staff member, and he was immediately subdued,” department spokeswoman Alia Cruz told The Epoch Times in an email.
At the same time, about 200 inmates in the yard rushed the officers and attacked them with fists and rocks, Ms. Cruz added.
When inmates did not comply with several orders to stop, staffers shot one rifle round and used chemical agents and other non-lethal rounds to stop the incident, according to the department.
Eight staff members and one inmate were taken to medical facilities. They were treated and released, and the inmate was returned to the prison, the department reported.
The state has notified the Office of the Inspector General about the riot. As of Friday, 30 inmates were identified in the incident.
After the riot, officials suspended activities and movement in the yards and dayrooms in all state prisons for 24 hours.
Movement in Ironwood’s Facility D prison block continues to be restricted as officials investigate, according to the department.
The prison is near Blythe in eastern Riverside County.
