ST. LOUIS, MO – A security guard was injured during an incident at the St. Louis City Justice Center that led to over 100 inmates setting objects on fire and throwing them out of a broken window early this morning.
According to KMOV and the St. Joseph Post, the incident occurred in the 2000 block of S Tucker Boulevard at about 2:30 a.m., when a guard and an inmate got into a fight. Multiple other prisoners then reportedly joined in the confrontation.
Reports say that several inmates were able to free themselves from the locks on their cells, despite the system reporting that they were locked.
Multiple inmates set fire to chairs, sheets, mattresses, a stationary bike, and other debris, before throwing them out of a fourth-floor window.
The security officer, whose identity was not immediately released, was taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries.
About 115 inmates were involved in the incident.
Authorities reportedly used tear gas to disperse those participating in the disturbance.
The disturbance may be related to COVID-19-related restrictions and the effect that has had on court proceedings and visitations. Advocates for prison reform have reportedly protested the conditions of the jail for some time.
Authorities state that there are no COVID cases in the facility at this time.
This article is one in a series presented by OnderLaw to inform our neighbors about car accidents and traffic news across our city. It should not be interpreted as legal advice. However, if you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, we would like to discuss your case in detail. Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, your lost income, and other expenses. More importantly, the only way to fight for those who have been hurt due to the negligence of others or fix the root cause of many accidents is to enlist the help of an experienced attorney that has the possibility to effect change and can prevent this from happening to another family. Contact us today to speak to one of our compassionate St. Louis personal injury attorneys.
