400 Inmates Riot at North County Jail
A riot sparked by racial tension at the North County Correctional Facility on Thursday sent two inmates and a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy to the hospital with injuries, authorities said.
The 7:15 p.m. melee, which pitted black inmates against Latinos, was broken up within 30 minutes by deputies firing rubber bullets and nonlethal grenades, Sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Efflandt said. About 400 inmates of an estimated jail population of 2,000 participated, he said.
Thirteen prisoners received minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Two others were hospitalized with what Efflandt said were “serious” wounds. One deputy received minor injuries, he said. An investigation will determine if any inmates will face criminal charges.
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