USP Atwater investigating several fights among inmates Monday

ATWATER -- U.S. Penitentiary Atwater is on lockdown after several fights that included weapons occurred Monday in less than a half-hour, inside cell blocks and outside in the yard.

Two inmates were hospitalized and in critical condition. No details on their injuries were released. A third inmate was taken to the hospital; his condition was not released.

The fights were between two black gangs, said Donald Martin, president and chief executive officer of the prison's union, AFGE Local 1242.

Such fights sometimes arise from efforts to gain respect or are the result of gambling, he added. "This is very out of the ordinary because of the succession of events," Martin said.

The first fight was at 5:29 p.m. in Unit 1, according to union officials. Two inmates attacked one inmate.

Another fight took place eight minutes later in Unit 2, where seven inmates attacked two inmates.

Three minutes after that, 10 inmates attacked two inmates.

A fourth fight occurred when five inmates attacked one inmate on Yard 2 at 5:42 p.m.

The last was at 5:50 p.m. on Yard 3. Three inmates attacked one inmate.

All the fights involved weapons, according to union officials.

Prison staff immediately responded to the fights and contained the situation, according to Miguel Chavez, public information officer for the prison.

There were no injuries to correctional officers, he said.

The circumstances of the fights are under investigation, Chavez said, adding that the public wasn't in danger during the violence.

This year, there have been three assaults on staff, 10 gang-related incidents and one inmate suicide, according to the prison union's website.

Prison officials recently shut down six guard towers and eliminated the prison's spot-search crew, which performed "shakedowns" of inmates to locate weapons, drugs and alcohol, according to the union.

These cuts are a cause of concern for the safety of the prison correctional officers, Martin said. "We're very concerned about the trend of vacating posts," he said.

The union is working with Rep. Dennis Cardoza's office to pass legislation that would allow staff to carry pepper spray, said Gary Pullings, union treasurer. Monday's incidents are a good example of how pepper spray could protect the lives of correctional officers and inmates, he said.

The prison probably will remain on lockdown for the rest of the week, officials said.

Reporter Mike North can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or mnorth@mercedsun-star.com.

This story was originally published February 22, 2011 at 9:31 AM with the headline "USP Atwater investigating several fights among inmates Monday."