Guard, 2 Inmates Hurt in Brawl at Honor Rancho
A guard and two inmates were injured in a “racially motivated” brawl at the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic involving about 500 inmates who were apparently renewing a confrontation that began the night before, authorities said.
The injured guard, who received a leg injury when he was attacked by an unidentified inmate, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated and released, said Sgt. Ron Spear, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman.
Two inmates received minor wounds and were treated at the jail clinic, Spear said.
Black and Latino inmates began fighting about 9:45 a.m. and continued for about one hour until sheriff’s deputies fired seven sting-balls--small explosive devices filled with rubber pellets--to restore order, Spear said.
During the brawl, inmates in an open area between the compound and the barracks attacked each other with broken broom handles and sharpened kitchen knives, he said.
About 54 sheriff’s deputies from throughout the jail were called in to quell the confrontation.
Spear said that the previous night a fight involving about 85 inmates was halted by sheriff’s deputies who ordered the inmates to disperse.
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