The State - News from July 5, 1989

Inmates armed with broom handles and socks filled with soap bars sparked a 20-minute brawl in their crowded cell block at a San Diego County jail, officials said. Fifteen prisoners were injured in the disturbance at a medium-security area of the El Cajon Detention Facility. The fight continued sporadically for about 20 minutes before deputies quelled the disturbance, Sgt. Frank Ramirez said. The cell is designed to hold 24 inmates, Ramirez said, but at the time of the fight it housed 112. The jail was operating with a minimum staff of 13 deputies because of the Fourth of July holiday, which made it more difficult for deputies to stop the fighting, Ramirez said. “Fifteen inmates were taken to hospitals with various injuries,” he said. “None of the injuries were life-threatening, and there were no injures to the jail staff.” Sheriff’s detectives are investigating what prompted the fight.