2 injured in 50-inmate California Men’s Colony riot — the second in 2 days
Inmates at the California Men’s Colony rioted on Thursday for the second day in a row, causing two injuries, according to state prison officials.
The riot occurred at the San Luis Obispo state prison about 1:06 p.m., when a group of approximately 35 inmates rushed another 15 inmates in the Facility A recreation yard, said a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) news release.
The yard is a medium-custody area, according to past Tribune stories.
Correctional officers responded to the area where the fights were taking place and ordered the inmates to stop multiple times, the news release. The inmates did not comply, and observation tower officers fired two warning shots from their state-issued rifles.
Emergency responders also used light and sound diversionary devices and non-lethal projectiles to stop the fighting, the release said.
No staff members were injured, but two inmates were transported to the hospital for treatment, according to the release.
One inmate was struck in the head and knocked unconscious, and the non-life threatening injuries to the other inmate were not confirmed.
A riot broke out in the same yard on Wednesday afternoon, and investigators believe the fights were linked.
During that incident, at least four inmates sustained slashing or stabbing-type wounds. At least two inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered at the scene.
The Investigative Services Unit at the prison is looking into the incidents, and inmate movement at Facility A has been limited during the investigation.
Prior to these back-to-back events, the last riot at CMC occurred in September 2017, when one prisoner was killed and multiple were stabbed in a melee that involved some 160 inmates.
Tribune reporter Matt Fountain contributed to this story.
This story was originally published August 29, 2019 at 5:55 PM with the headline "2 injured in 50-inmate California Men’s Colony riot — the second in 2 days."
