Fights Blamed on Crowding Erupt at County Jail in El Cajon

Increasing tension blamed on crowding triggered hostilities between groups of black and Latino inmates at the El Cajon Jail Thursday afternoon, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

Several fights involving about 20 inmates erupted between the two groups when nearly 100 prisoners were out of their cells after a meal about 1:25 p.m., said Sgt. Bob Takeshta, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

He said about 345 inmates are in custody at the jail, initially designed to hold 48 prisoners.

“There’s only so much you can do when you’re working with so many inmates and so little space,” he said. “We would like to segregate the inmates, but we don’t have the room for such luxury.”

Although they at first refused orders to return to their cells, the inmates were subdued by the deputies shortly before 2 p.m., Takeshta said.

For nearly five hours normal jail operations, including visits and activity programs, were curtailed while investigators interviewed and examined inmates for injuries.

Three inmates were treated for minor scrapes and bruises at the dispensary. No deputies were injured, Takeshta said.

Seven inmates, including four documented gang members who were identified as participants in the riot were transferred to other jails, Takeshta said.

“Overcrowding puts tension on everybody, deputies and inmates alike,” said Alex Landon, lead counsel for a pending American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit dealing with jail crowding.