3 Inmates Hurt in Brawl at Jail Dorm

For the fourth time in less than two months, black and Latino inmates brawled this week at Pitchess Detention Center near Castaic, leaving three people injured, authorities said Wednesday.

The skirmish occurred about 10 p.m. Tuesday at one of the jail’s dormitories where fights have erupted before. About 60 inmates were involved in the brawl, which lasted 10 minutes before Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies fired sting-ball grenades, said Cmdr. Steve Day, who oversees the Pitchess compound.

Two inmates were taken to the jail’s medical ward at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center for minor injuries. A third was treated at the jail.

Another potential brawl three hours later was prevented when deputies launched canisters containing a gaseous mixture into a crowd of unruly inmates, authorities said. One inmate attempted to hurl a canister back at a deputy but was stopped when hit by a beanbag pellet.

Jail officials are interviewing inmates to determine the cause of the fight.

“We suspect this is payback,” Day said. “This culture operates under different rules than society. We suspect this will continue. I don’t think there is an absolute way to eliminate this.”

Latino and black inmates have been battling for months for control of the jail. The most serious incident was in April when the two groups were segregated after a three-day riot in which more than 80 men were injured. .

About 1,000 inmates under the age of 35, who are considered troublesome and face serious charges, have been transferred to different facilities over the last three weeks, Day said.