63 Pelican Bay inmates riot

Three taken to hospital after melee

A riot involving 63 inmates at Pelican Bay State Prison broke out on Sunday morning.

Inmates began attacking each other at about 9:15 a.m. in general population yard A, said Lt. Christopher Acosta, prison public information officer.

Numerous correctional officers responded to quell the outbreak using pepper spray, pepper spray grenades, and guns that shoot 40mm rubber balls, Acosta said.

A warning shot was also fired, he said, adding the riot lasted about eight minutes.

All of the inmates were checked and treated for any injuries and three were transported to Sutter Coast Hospital  to receive a higher level of medical care, Acosta said. They were released from the hospital the same day, he said.

A correctional officer injured his hamstring responding to the incident, Acosta said.

The inmates involved have been placed under lockdown, and the cause of the riot is still under investigation, Acosta said.

The amount and types of weapons used by rioting inmates are also still under investigation, Acosta said.

The investigation is being handled by the Investigative Services Unit and the Del Norte County District Attorney’s Office, Acosta said.

He declined to comment on the ethnicity of the inmates and whether gang members were involved.

Pelican Bay’s last riot was in April 2009, involving 23 inmates, also in the A yard, Acosta said.