Riot at prison caused $476K in damage
Report: Inmates destroy fixtures; six officers let go
Editor’s note: This is the third of a five-part series based on the final reports issued by the Arizona Department of Corrections after an investigation of the March 1 riot at the state prison near San Luis, Ariz.
The March 1 riot at the state prison near San Luis, Ariz., caused about half a million dollars in damages. The final reports released by the Arizona Department of Corrections on Wednesday lists the total estimated cost of damages at $476,330.
The Disturbance Assessment Report and Operational Review Report contain the final findings following the investigation of the disturbance at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Yuma’s medium-custody Cheyenne Unit, which resulted in the death of one inmate.
The damage assessment report of the 2 1/2-hour disturbance notes that the facility sustained significant damage. It indicates that inmates destroyed the majority of the fixtures in the inmate housing unit restroom facilities; closedcircuit television cameras in most of the day rooms and dormitories; breached the officer stations; and destroyed the door control panels.
The facility also sustained significant damage at all locations where windows were accessible. Inmates broke into staff offices in the day rooms. All the state equipment and personal property of staff were either burned or destroyed. The inmates used the desks and bulletin boards from these offices as cover from the less-lethal impact munitions from responding staff.
The Health Unit was breached with several windows and doors broken. The inmates looted prescription pharmacy items stored in a mobile medical cabinet.
Inmates compromised or breached several roller gates; the spline roller gates separating both yards were dislodged and allowed inmates to access the other side of the yard. In addition, a single fence located between Building 5 and 6 was knocked down, allowing inmates access to the back of the housing units designated as “no man’s land.”
After consulting engineering and facilities construction managers, the cost of damages was estimated as follows: broken windows: $95,400; 12 desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, printers and telephones: $42,000; 15 control panels: $150,000; 32 security cameras: $16,000; 30 restroom sinks and fixtures: $9,000; and 23 toilets with plumbing: $6,900; and 13 urinals: $4,550.
Forty-one fire extinguishers were discharged and will cost $4,100 to test, refill and certify. Fourteen officer stations and other areas had ceiling damage and in many cases the ceiling support grid was also damaged, which will cost $42,000 to repair.
The entrance gate and the bars on the front door to the Medical Building were bent. Three doors will cost $800 each with hardware to replace. Other damages include a missing front computer and phone: $3,500; nurse’s station laptop: $2,000; two desktop computers and two scanners: $14,500; and 52 smoke detectors: $5,200.
A security fence and pedestrian gate at Building 6 needs replacement at a cost of $10,000 as well as a Building 2 South roller gate at a cost of $15,000.
The estimated damage costs include $62,130 for miscellaneous hardware, paint and contingency expenses. The report notes that the itemized property damage cost is preliminary and does not include the collateral and incidental cost beyond the initial incident.
Costs following the riot
The report notes that once inmates were restrained and secured, staff set up a medical triage to identify inmates in need of immediate medical care and inmates requiring transportation to an outside health facility for treatment.
The remaining inmates were moved to the recreation field on each side of the yard. The extent of the damage sustained by the facility rendered the inmate housing uninhabitable. Consequently, each inmate was given two blankets and a jacket in anticipation that repairs could take some time.
Portable latrines were made available to inmates, and they were provided drinking water, sunscreen and sanitary wipes at a cost of $21,623.
The report also includes damages attributed to staff. After the riot, the warden conducted a facility inspection and noted televisions with cracked screens, each bearing clear boot prints.
A review of available security footage allegedly revealed several officers intentionally destroying televisions and other items belonging to inmates. A total of 145 televisions were damaged and cost $28,275 to replace.
The ADC referred six correctional officers to the Yuma County Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. They were identified as Ricardo Acosta, Karlo Rivas, Eduardo Bojorquez, Julio Ledezma, Ricardo Tapia-Villa and Alberto Leon. These six officers no longer work for the ADC.
The report and related exhibits are posted and available for download in the Reports section of the ADC website.