Prisoners from Jackson County have been removed from the Johnson County Jail in Missouri following an outbreak of violence in the facility on Thursday evening.
The “near riot conditions” described in a press release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office reportedly started with a disturbance in the male dormitories followed by an escape attempt and a fire.
An “all call” was placed, resulting in 179 police officers from multiple counties responding to contain the inmates. Johnson County Fire Units and Ambulance also came to the jail.
The dormitory’s 42 occupants were inmates of the Jackson County Detention Center who had been housed at the Johnson County facility under a memorandum of understanding during safety and security upgrades.
Control was reestablished by 11:42, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Jackson County inmates were restrained and returned to Jackson County.
Jackson County Executive Frank White pledged to cooperate with an investigation of the incident and said those involved would be held accountable.
“While we are thankful that no one was injured, we are deeply concerned that this incident occurred at all,” said White in a press release.
He said the inmates would not be returned until operational issues had been addressed.
Johnson County sheriff Scott W. Munsterman lauded the efforts of the multiple police and other emergency service agencies.
“This is just another example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies work together toward a common goal to protect the citizens of the Missouri,” Munsterman’s statement read.
Alex Smith is a health reporter for KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @AlexSmithKCUR
