Officials at High Desert State Prison are investigating a large-scale riot that occurred this morning involving approximately 65 inmates. According to a press release from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the riot was quelled and no staff members were injured. Five inmates have been transported to outside hospitals.
The riot happened on recreation yards of Facility D, which houses level IV inmates and began at 10:30 a.m., lasting approximately seven to 10 minutes.
Numerous inmates sustained puncture/slash-type injuries, the majority of which were minor and treated by medical staff at the institution. The five inmates transported to outside hospitals are in stable condition awaiting return to the institution.
Officers recovered 21 inmate-manufactured weapons.
Staff utilized non-lethal rounds and grenades, and fired warning shots from a Mini-14 rifle to quell the incident.
All inmates housed on the facility have been placed for now on a Modified Program. Today’s incident is being investigated by the prison’s Investigative Services Unit. The Office of the Inspector General’s Bureau of Independent Review was notified. CDCR’s Deadly Force Investigation Team will also review this incident.
High Desert State Prison, located in Lassen County, opened in 1995 and houses approximately 3,700 minimum-, medium-, and maximum-custody inmates. The institution employs more than 1,200 people and provides academic, trade and vocational training to incarcerated inmates.
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