Prison locked down after riot

Inmates held in rec yard at San Luis facility

The Arizona State Prison Complex Yuma, which is near the city of San Luis, is under lockdown after hundreds of inmates were involved in a riot there on Thursday evening.

According to information provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, inmates reportedly attacked prison personnel around 6:45 p.m at the medium-custody Cheyenne Unit of the complex.

Officials say around 600 inmates were involved in the disturbance, which included throwing rocks, setting fire to mattresses and other property in the yard and breaking into the prison health unit.

ADC’s quick response and tactical teams from the Yuma, Lewis and Tucson complexes worked to bring the disturbance under control around 9:00 p.m., ADC said in a press release. Several other area fire and police departments responded to the prison as well.

The city of Yuma Fire Department responded to the prison after receiving mutual aide requests from the ADOC, with Yuma police sending its Special Enforcement Unit (SEU). The San Luis Police Department and the Yuma County Sherriff’s office also provided assistance.

All employees are safe and accounted for, ADOC said.

The inmates involved are contained and will remain on the fenced recreation yard tonight as ADC personnel investigate the incident, ADOC reports.

No information was released as to whether how many inmates were injured, if any.

Additional criminal charges will be filed against any inmates involved in violent activity, ADOC said.

Buy these photos at YumaSun.com PHOTOS BY RANDY HOEFT/YUMA SUN A U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION HELICOPTER circles the Arizona State Prison Complex-Yuma overhead, shining a spotlight onto the prison grounds below, located outside San Luis, Ariz., at 7125 E. Juan Sanchez Blvd., late Thursday night.