Officials put the state’s medium security prison in Newton in a lock down this morning after more than a dozen inmates were involved in brawls in the recreation yard. A statement from the Department of Corrections indicates 15 inmates were involved in the fracas and it required the use of “chemical agents” to get things under control.
The inmates involved have been segregated from the general population and officials say the rest of the inmates were “generally cooperative” and went back to their assigned cells. Officials say no staff or inmates were seriously injured in the melee.
The Newton prison is under lockdown, with most inmates restricted to their cells unless they’re in the lunch room or going to see a doctor. The prison went on lockdown at about 10 a.m. today and visitors were turned away all day.
Officials say visiting hours will resume tomorrow (Saturday).