Prison fight involving 81 inmates stopped by seven warning shots

CLALLAM BAY, Wash. — Officials say a fight involving scores of inmates at a state prison in Clallam Bay was stopped by seven warning shots.

In a release, the Washington Department of Corrections said 81 inmates at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center broke out into a fight in the recreation yard around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Agency spokesman Jeremy Barclay says inmates ignored all directives to stop fighting including verbal orders and use of pepper spray. Officers eventually fired seven warning shots aimed in an unoccupied area, which stopped the fighting.

No officers were injured. Barclay says five inmates were taken offsite for treatment of injuries and that four returned to the prison Thursday. He says one person remained hospitalized with a broken jaw.

Barclay says officials are investigating the cause of the incident and there will be an internal and external investigation following policy after a weapon is discharged.

Clallam Bay Corrections Center opened in 1985 and houses over 850 medium, close and maximum custody male inmates.