CLALLAM BAY — Parts of Clallam Bay Corrections Center were on lockdown and the rest of the facility was on restricted movement Sunday as the state Department of Corrections investigates a fight involving dozens of inmates that happened Saturday afternoon.
Corrections Spokesperson Janelle Guthrie said in an email that officials believe a fight involving upward of 40 inmates in a dining hall stemmed from a fight earlier in the day involving two Hispanic inmates and a black inmate.
Many of the 40 inmates in the B Unit Dining Hall were actively involved in the fight, using food trays and a utensil holder as weapons, she said.
“Everyone believed to have been involved has been moved into administrative segregation pending further investigation,” she said. “As individuals are identified who were not involved, they will be removed from the administrative segregation.”
Restricted movement is the suspension of normal movement in a prison, usually after a disturbance, according to www.doc.wa.gov.
Several inmates were transported to area hospitals. Two suffered lacerations while one was temporarily knocked unconscious.
There were no staff injuries.
“The department takes these incidents very seriously and a review is underway,” Guthrie said.
In May, 81 close-custody inmates fought, causing five injuries — including a broken jaw.
Last months inmates went on strike in protest over food and other conditions at the prison, refusing to eat their meals.
Visitation and volunteer programming is closed through Monday.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
