Inmates in bloody clash over mobile phone

The short-lived but bloody clash that led to several inmates receiving treatment at hospital, and a lockdown at Her Majesty’s Prison on Monday, were triggered by a conflict over an inmate’s mobile phone, reliable sources say.{{more}}

Shortly after 10 a.m., last Monday, September 3, violence erupted at the prison, and six inmates were rushed to hospital to be treated for injuries, including gashes to the head.

One inmate reportedly received a stab to the side of his face.

Persons wanting to visit relatives and friends were turned away, as Chief Dennis Williams, the officer in charge at the time of the incident, locked down the prison.

“I was not there when the incident happened, but Chief Williams handled the situation, and we are investigating,” said prison Superintendent Eric Rodriguez, when contacted by SEARCHLIGHT.

Both Superintendent Rodriguez and his deputy, Assistant Superintendent Linus Goodluck, were off the compound at the time of the incident.

A reliable source close to the prison told SEARCHLIGHT that prison officers crushed the disturbance almost as quickly as it began; in less than half an hour.

Rodriguez told SEARCHLIGHT that the matter was being thoroughly investigated, but said that there was no reason for alarm.

“These activities are normal in prisons,” Rodriguez said, adding that his staff has largely been able to maintain a high level of order at the prison.

Meanwhile, prisoners are crying foul, saying that innocent inmates were beaten and then “offered apology for their wounds.”

This is according to a letter that reached SEARCHLIGHT from behind the prison walls.

The inmate charged that: “Most (of the) damage was done by the prison department, who brought guns, and handcuffed inmates, and beat them.”

But the prison chief, who will not confirm the cause of the unrest, only reiterating that a full investigation is being done, says he is confident that Chief Williams took the appropriate actions needed to restore order.

Sources tell SEARCHLIGHT that prison officials, in addition to investigating how the cell phone got into the prison, are also exploring the possibility that the clash had significance that goes deeper than a quarrel over a cell phone.