Deputy, Inmates Hurt in Jail Fights

More than 20 inmates and a sheriff’s deputy were injured Saturday in three brawls between blacks and Latinos at the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The fights broke out in two dormitories at the medium-security jail’s South Facility, said Deputy Benita Hinojos.

Eight sheriff’s deputies ended a 7:30 a.m. fight among 10 inmates, Hinojos said. Another fight broke out 40 minutes later involving 60 prisoners, many wielding mop handles and broomsticks as weapons.

The second fight ended when 40 sheriff’s deputies arrived, wearing helmets, face shields and flak vests, Hinojos said.

A third fight broke out in a dormitory at 2:30 p.m. and escalated into a confrontation among 75 inmates that spilled over into an outdoor compound, Deputy Larry Mead said.

It took 50 deputies dressed in riot gear and armed with batons about 30 minutes to end the fight using verbal commands, Mead said.

Seventeen inmates were treated at the jail’s clinic and four others were treated at San Fernando Community Hospital for injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to minor lacerations, deputies said. One deputy was treated for a finger injury.

As a precaution, more than 100 inmates were moved to other areas of the jail or transferred to other county facilities, deputies said.