8 Inmates Injured in Latest Brawls at Pitchess Facility

Four fights between African American and Latino inmates broke out at the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho late Friday and early Saturday, resulting in injuries to eight inmates and a weekend lock-down, authorities said.

No serious injuries were reported in the melees, which occurred in dormitories in the jail’s maximum security facility and involved about 100 inmates battling with feet and hands, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Britta Tubbs said. All eight inmates were treated at the jail’s clinic.

The fights were the latest in a series of brawls between black and Latino inmates in the jail’s maximum-security section. Sheriff’s officials are considering segregating the facility to prevent violence and have met with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is examining the constitutionality of such a move.

“Most of them apparently have been racially motivated,” Sgt. Francisco Jimenez said of the fights.

This weekend’s incidents began about 9 p.m. Friday when fights broke out in two dormitories, resulting in injuries to four inmates.

A brawl among about 30 inmates in another dorm occurred at 4:45 a.m., injuring another inmate. About two hours later, a fourth dorm erupted in fighting with 51 inmates involved. Three prisoners were injured by rubber bullets fired by sheriff’s officials, but none seriously, Tubbs said.

No deputies were injured in the brawls, which are still under investigation. Each of the four fights was quelled in under seven minutes, authorities said.

All weekend visits were canceled, and the maximum-security facility was put on lock-down status, which means inmates were confined to their dorms, Tubbs said.

On Jan. 9, a riot involving as many as 1,000 African American and Latino inmates broke out at the jail, resulting in injuries to 80 prisoners. About 50 inmates clashed at the jail Tuesday, in what was called a continuation of the riot.