Dozens of inmates cause large 'disturbance' at Monroe prison

MONROE, Wash. (AP) — Law enforcement agencies responded to the Monroe Corrections Complex Wednesday evening to help contain what a Washington State Patrol spokeswoman called a large “disturbance” among the inmates.

Dozens of inmates started threatening to set fires and possibly take corrections officers hostage, a Washington State Patrol spokeswoman told The Seattle Times.

Law enforcement arrived at the prison just after 7 p.m., State Trooper Heather Axtman said. She confirmed inmates were making threats, but she said she didn’t know whether violence had broken out.

Two inmates at the Monroe prison described the tense unfolding situation in electronic messages to The Seattle Times with one calling it “off the hook,” saying corrections officers had “these grenades that shoot pellets to control what the hell is going on,” apparently referring to explosive devices that shoot out small projectiles.

Another man said: “It’s bad over here again. People are starting to run outdoors, throw food and all.”

A KOMO-TV helicopter livestreaming from above the prison after 8 p.m. appeared to show a controlled scene with inmates on their knees outside and law enforcement around the perimeter.

No further information was immediately released about what sparked the disturbance or if there were any injuries.

The facility has been grappling with the coronavirus and the disturbance came on the same day inmates at the prison’s minimum-security unit were told that additional inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Corrections have confirmed six inmates and five staff members at the Monroe facility have tested positive for COVID-19.

Inmates and families of those confined at the unit have raised alarms, saying inmates are vulnerable as they share living and recreations spaces, making it difficult to practice social distancing recommended by public-health officials.

Nick Straley, an attorney for Columbia Legal Services, on Wednesday night said the organization will file an emergency motion Thursday on behalf of the inmates with the state Supreme Court asking for immediate action to address the DOCs’ “inadequate COVID-19 response” at the Monroe prison.