9 Pitchess Inmates Injured in Fight
Nine inmates suffered minor injuries in a fight involving 25 detainees at the medium-security south facility of the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
The five-minute brawl began about 11:50 p.m. Monday and included inmates wielding mop handles and makeshift knives, Deputy Gabe Ramirez said. Meanwhile, about 150 to 200 other inmates cheered them on.
The brawl ended after 50 deputies from the jail’s emergency response teams arrived at the compound in riot gear, Ramirez said. Deputies broke up the fight using verbal commands, jail officials said.
Nine inmates suffered cuts and bruises, and all but one was treated at the jail clinic, Ramirez said. The other inmate was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a minor head cut, he said.
Lt. Drew Basey said the fight divided along racial lines between black and Latino inmates, but it was unclear what caused the fight.
“It really could have been anything,” Basey said. “Minor issues here can create a disturbance.”
It was the 12th such fight at the jail’s five facilities this year.
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