Others involved receive minor injuries, Sheriff Arpaio places jail on lockdown
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says a Sunday night brawl between inmates incarcerated in a general population housing unit in Towers Jail resulted in numerous injuries. Towers Jail is located at 3127 West Gibson Lane Phoenix Arizona
According to Sheriff’s jail crimes investigators, the fight began over a commissary issue but quickly escalated into a racially divided brawl involving multiple inmates inside that housing unit. Several sustained injuries, some requiring sutures.
However, the worst injury, Arpaio says, was to a 52 year old Hispanic male. That inmate, arrested in October by Glendale Police on a felony probation violation, fell to the ground and lost consciousness after being punched in the face by one, or perhaps two other inmates.
The injured detainee is on a ventilator and in critical condition at St Joseph’s Hospital and is not expected to survive his injuries.
Sheriff’s jail crimes investigators are reviewing video and interviewing all involved in the fight to determine who is responsible for the injury to the 52 year old.
Depending on the outcome of that inmate’s medical condition, additional charges will be filed against those responsible.
Sheriff Arpaio says the fight apparently started at about 9:15 PM Sunday and no weapons were found to have been used in the brawl. Arpaio says he still plans to visit jailed veterans in Towers Jail tomorrow afternoon despite the fact that the jail brawl has the facility on security override.
Arpaio will share a meal with jailed military vets who are housed in an adjacent housing unit to where the fight occurred after the Sheriff participates in the Phoenix Veterans day Parade..
Arpaio, a military vet himself, will join the vet/inmates for a special meal around 2:30PM Tuesday, November 11, 2014.