New Castle - Indiana authorities transferred more than 200 inmates who helped instigate a two-hour riot at the state prison in New Castle Tuesday.
The transfers from the New Castle Correctional Facility include 69 inmates from Arizona. They were moved to the Wabash Valley prison near Carlisle.
The Indiana Department of Correction said in a media release Wednesday morning that a total of 151 inmates from Indiana were taken to the Plainfield Correctional Facility.
Indiana officials also have suspended plans to accept hundreds of more inmates from Arizona following Tuesday's riot at the privately-managed prison.
Authorities are investigating whether the fracas started because some of the newly arrived prisoners from Arizona were upset about their treatment at the medium-security prison.
Department of Corrections Commissioner David Donahue said he thinks the differences might have played a role in what happened Tuesday. "My gut reaction is there is a cultural difference, not in human beings, but in operational delivery of our systems. As far as any tensions among the inmate populations, I don't recognize it as a cause in and of itself...we will interview offenders, interview the staff and do our best to understand exactly what was the initial cause for why offenders decided not to comply with the staff's direction."
A corrections employee told Eyewitness News CrimeBeat reporter Steve Jefferson on Wednesday that the Arizona prisoners were upset about the prison food, a smoking ban, and the fact they were required to wear clothing that indicated they were transferees.
Two staff members and seven prisoners suffered minor injuries. The prisoners were all treated on-site. The two staff members were treated and released Tuesday in New Castle.
During the riot, inmates set fires in a courtyard, injuring two staff members and trapping some guards and others before order was restored.
It started just after 2 p.m., the pictures relayed from Chopper 13 made it clear the inmates had control of the New Castle Correctional Facility. The offenders disrobed, destroyed property, sparked fires and sprayed graffiti on the grounds.
Jennifer Parks is the sister of a prison employee. "They've set fires. Police had to use tear gas to subdue the prisoners. (It was a) very scary situation."
Police and emergency squads, in full riot gear, worked to quell the violence, which erupted from three cell houses in the medium security facility and spilled outside into the courtyard.
The riot did not extend beyond prison fences according to Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Rod Russell. "That never occurred. The perimeter was secured by law enforcement personnel."
Two corrections staffers were hurt in the riot. Seven inmates treated, too, all with minor injuries.
Sgt. Russell said police and guards finally gained control nearly three hours later. "It's being controlled at this time. Steps are being taken to control the inmate population."
The inmate population, the mix of in-state and out-of-state offenders, may have sparked the chaos.
Prisoners from Arizona have been housed at the facility since March under an interstate agreement. The offenders from Arizona are separated from the Indiana inmates, but prison rules in Indiana are different from those in the Southwest, such as smoking policies and personal property allowed here.
Three hours of chaos finally at an end. But the riot raises questions about the ability for New Castle to house out-of-state inmates and its ability to keep control inside prison walls.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
