Racial Tensions Blamed For Brawl At Men's Central Jail
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Multiple inmates were recovering from injuries Wednesday after a brawl erupted inside Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.
KNX 1070's Brian Ping reports the scuffle prompted a strong response from deputies.
6 hurt in brawl at LA jail
The incident occurred shortly after noon Tuesday in a third floor recreation area inside Tower One, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Whitmore said.
The fight involving more than 60 inmates lasted for just over a minute before deputies were able to break it up, according to the Associated Press.
Four inmates suffered cuts and bruises, and were transported to a hospital for treatment, Associated Press reported.
Among the projectiles deputies used to break up the fight were sting ball grenades, which release a burst of hard rubber pellets.
Whitmore said while it appeared racial animosity between blacks and Latinos fueled the brawl, he doesn't believe conditions in the 19,000-inmate facility were a factor.
"Our inmate population, they're in for more violent crimes than ever before," Whitmore said. "I will say this though, crime is at historic lows, so I don't think it's overcrowding, I just think it has to do with from time to time, tension flares up."
It was unclear what specific racial groups were involved in the incident.
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