Michigan Prisoners Destroy Chippewa Unit After Guards Send Inmate To Hospital

Guards at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Michigan lost control of one of their prison units for about five hours on Sunday night following a fight.

The uproar took place shortly before 10:30 p.m. after an inmate was sent to the hospital from guards using a taser to break up a fight, the Detroit Free Press reports.

“After the ambulance left, prisoners in the unit left their cells and approached the officer station and the officers were able to exit safely,” Chris Gautz, a Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson, explained.

The level two-unit, which is located in the Upper Peninsula and houses over 200 prisoners, was abandoned by guards after prisoners approached the officer station.

In the time it took to regain control of the unit, the prisoners reportedly caused an extensive amount of damage to the facility, including breaking equipment. During their time unsupervised, Guatz claims the inmates “made a mess of the unit, destroyed equipment, threw papers everywhere, broke glass, flooded areas.”

ClickOnDetroit.com reported the guards were able to gain control of the unit at around 4 a.m. and secured all prisoners in the unit back to their cells.

Gautz said he was unaware of any injuries to officers or prisoners as a result of the incident.