Rioting Tennessee Inmates Take Hostages : One Prisoner Is Stabbed as 600 Men Loot, Burn Three Buildings

Inmates armed with homemade knives and chains looted and burned three buildings at the Turney Center prison Monday, then took several hostages, authorities said.

One inmate was stabbed and another suffered a heart attack as about 600 men became involved in the uprising, said John Taylor, a state Corrections Department spokesman. Both victims were in good condition at the prison clinic, he said.

The disturbance, which began about 6 p.m., may have been caused by inmates’ reaction to a new law that requires them to wear striped uniforms, he said.

About 20 inmates were taken hostage, but seven later were released, said John Parish, press secretary to Gov. Lamar Alexander.

Prison Guard Released

A prison guard also was held briefly, but later released, Parish said.

“They are armed with chains and homemade knives,” Parish said.

An extra contingent of prison guards was called to duty to quell the rioting, and Tennessee state troopers surrounded the medium-security facility, which holds a total of 880 inmates.

“We’ve got control of the perimeter with armed officers all around the perimeter,” said Taylor, who was at the scene.

Warden Larry Lack was communicating via bullhorn with spokesmen for the inmates.

Want Media Access

The inmates’ spokesmen, whose names were not available immediately, said they wanted access to the news media but did not elaborate, Parish said.

Five inmates apparently sparked the disturbance when they began “tearing up the kitchen area,” said Taylor. “Then some other inmates got involved and they started burning uniforms in the prison yard.”

The commissary, kitchen and chapel were burned, said Taylor.