California Pens
California Pens :: High Desert State Prison
January 2012
April 2011
April 19 – On Facility D maximum security yard, officers observed three inmates attacking another inmate with inmate-manufactured weapons. Staff ordered them to stop with negative results. Officers fired rounds from a 40 mm and the Gun Tower officer fired one round from a Mimi-14, striking one of the attackers in the back. The inmates stopped the attack and complied with staff orders to get into a prone position. The victim inmate sustained 30 stab wounds to the head, torso and back and was transported to an outside hospital for treatment.
April 2 – ISU obtained a search warrant for the search of an inmate’s mother who arrived at visiting. When the visitor arrived, ISU staff escorted her to a conference room where she was asked to voluntarily submit to an unclothed body search as well as a search of her vehicle. ISU began searching the vehicle and discovered one small plastic baggy with suspected methamphetamines and one large “Buck” knife. Both items were put into evidence and the visitor was arrested and transported to a detention facility.
February 2011
February 19 – An officer noticed an inmate behaving in an unusual manner, so the officer ordered the inmate to a clothed body search. Upon initial contact the inmate spun around and began stabbing the officer in the neck and upper torso with an inmate-manufactured weapon. The officer defended himself and other staff responded using physical force and pepper spray to stop the inmate. The inmate, who is currently serving a 60-years-to-life sentence for first-degree murder, will be charged with attempted homicide of a peace officer.
September 2010
September 26 – On a yard two inmates attacked a third inmate. The attacked inmate was choked until he became unconscious. To prevent significant bodily injury and possible death, an officer fired one .223 round from their state-issued Mini 14. The round struck one of the attacking inmates in the upper body. The inmate was taken to treatment and triage, where officials worked to save him until he was pronounced dead.
August 2010
August 28 – An inmate battered another inmate in their assigned cell with a state issued razor. The inmate sustained a cut to the forearm that resulted in 22 stitches, abrasions and scratches to the neck and face. Both inmates were rehoused in Ad Seg.
August 27 – Staff responded to a cell fight involving a controlled substance. One inmate was taken to an outside hospital and admitted for a concussion. The other inmate was rehoused in Ad Seg. A subsequent search revealed narcotics in the cell.
May 2010
May 14 – An officer was retrieving the evening food tray and an RN was issuing medication to an inmate when the inmate threw an unknown liquid substance, striking the officer in the torso, arms and neck. The officer was taken to an outside hospital for medical evaluation and treatment due to possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The officer returned to duty after the evaluation.
February 2010
FEBRUARY 7 -- During the afternoon exercise yard on Facility D, one inmate was battered by two inmates using a weapon. Responding staff stopped the incident and recovered a slashing-type weapon fashioned from an altered razor blade. The injured inmate was transported to an outside hospital due to several lacerations to his head and face.
January 2010
January 31 – An inmate using an inmate-manufactured weapon on an exercise yard, attacked another inmate causing life threatening injuries. The inmate was transported to an outside hospital for 17 sutures and seven staples to close his wounds. Staff recovered the weapon measuring approximately 9 inches in length, fashioned from flat metal stock.
December 2009
December 14 – An inmate became agitated because of a bed move and assaulted an officer. The inmate became verbally abusive and was attempted to push his way out of the office when he struck an officer in the chest. The inmate was placed on the floor and restraints were applied without further incident. The officer sustained a twisted knee and was taken to an outside hospital for medical treatment.
November 2009
November 24 - While being released to the yard, an inmate became argumentative with an officer. As the officer began to counsel the inmate, the inmate became more argumentative. The officer ordered the inmate to get down on the ground. The inmate ignored the orders and charged toward the officer. A Code 1 was initiated and responding staff used pepper spray; though the pepper spray did not have the desired effect, as the inmate struck the two officers in the face, head and upper torso. Staff then used an expandable baton to subdue the inmate.
November 24 - In Facility C, Building 1, C section, four Northern Hispanic inmates attacked four white inmates with inmate-manufactured weapons. Staff used five 40mm exact impact rounds, and five MK 9s in order to stop the incident. Three inmate-manufactured weapons were recovered following the incident. Two of the white inmates sustained serious bodily injury and were transported to an outside hospital. The remaining inmates with injuries were treated at the institution.
March 2009
March 27 - A correctional officer was assaulted at a rest area near Canyon Dam on his way to work. The victim was severely beaten and suffered slash wounds to his face and throat. The officer was able to drive himself to the hospital for treatment. The Plumas sheriff's office is leading the investigation with assistance from CDCR.
February 2009
February 18 – An officer on Facility C was battered with a weapon. While the officer was issuing food trays during cell feeding, the officer attempted to give an inmate his food tray through the food port. As the inmate grabbed the tray, he became angry as it was not to his satisfaction and simultaneously pushed the tray aggressively back out of the port striking the officers wrist and thumb. The inmate was ordered to submit to handcuffs to which he complied.
January 2009
January 20 - During the dayroom program in the Facility B gymnasium, a gym officer heard what appeared to be an argument between inmates. As he scanned the dayroom, the officer observed two inmates arguing and then stopped. All gym housing officers responded to the yard door to search inmates returning from the exercise yard. As staff were bringing inmate into the gym, an inmate approached staff and stated that his jaw was in pain and that he needed to go to medical. The inmate was then escorted to the clinic. During the medical evaluation, information was received that the victim inmate had been punched in the jaw. The victim inmate was transported to the CTC for x-rays where it was determined he had suffered a broken jaw. Subsequently, the victim inmate was transported to an outside hospital for further medical treatment. The inmate remained hospitalized awaiting surgery on his jaw.
January 17 - During bed moves in Facility A, an inmate walked by another cell where an inmate was standing with the cell door open completing his move. Staff heard a cell door slam shut and observed the inmate walking down the stairs. Staff heard yelling and kicking of a cell door. One of the floor officers observed the inmate standing in his cell window bleeding from his neck area. The inmates in the unit were ordered to get down and the unit alarm was activated. Following medical evaluation, it was discovered the victim inmate sustained an approximate four-inch laceration to the side of his neck and jaw and was holding his left ear lobe in his hand, which had been cut off. The victim inmate was transported to an outside hospital via ambulance. It was determined he had been slashed with a razor blade. Staff searched the cell of the assailant inmate and recovered shaving razors, one of which had the blade removed and all were collected as evidence. The assailant inmate was placed in ASU. The victim inmate received medical attention and was returned to the institution. There were no other injuries to inmates or injuries to staff as a result of this incident.
January 8 - During mass searches in Facility C Building, an inmate was handcuffed and escorted to the program officer for suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol. As the sergeant and a correctional officer were attempting to secure the inmate into a holding cell, he suddenly and unexpectedly turned around to face them and at the same time lunged towards them as they were closing the door, striking both the sergeant and officer in the chest area. Staff grabbed the inmate with their hands and forced him to the ground. The inmate raised his leg up in the air in an attempt to kick at staff. Responding staff assisted in restraining the inmate. The inmate stopped resisting and was compliant. Medical staff examined the inmate noting abrasions to the side of his shoulder. The sergeant received no injuries, however the officer sustained pain to the knee but remained on duty at his request. The officer eventually left work to seek medical treatment from his own treating physician.
January 6 - In front of the Facility B program office, two inmates began fighting. One of the inmates began stabbing the victim inmate on the right side of the head lacerating his right ear. At the scene, an inmate-manufactured weapon was discovered. The weapon fashioned from flat metal stock approximately 6 ½ inches long sharpened to a point at one end. There were no injuries to staff.
January 1 - On the facility D exercise yard four inmates battered another inmate. Staff utilized pepper spray and four Direct Impact Rounds to quell the incident. The victim inmate sustained a cut to his head requiring staples to close the wound and a laceration to his eye socket requiring sutures.
December 2008
December 21 – An inmate battered another inmate in their assigned cell. Staff utilized pepper spray to stop the attack as the combatants refused orders to cease their aggressive behavior. One of the inmates received a large gash on his head. There were no other injuries to any inmates, and no injuries to staff.
December 10 – Staff on an exercise yard observed two inmates striking each other in the face, head and upper torso with their fists. The yard was ordered down by responding staff. All inmates complied except the combatants. Due to their refusal of staff orders to stop, two 40mm rounds; which did not strike the intended targets, and two grenades were utilized to stop the inmates aggressive actions. Both inmates were placed in Ad-Seg without further incident. There were no injuries to staff.
December 8 – On the Facility D exercise yard, two Southern Hispanic inmates attacked another Southern Hispanic inmate with inmate-manufactured weapons. Staff ordered the inmates to cease their aggressive actions numerous times without effect. Staff utilized pepper spray in an attempt to stop the aggressors, which temporarily had a positive affect in that they assumed a prone position on the ground. When staff ordered the aggressors to be placed in restraints, they got up and again began assaulting the victim. Fearing for the safety of the victim, the control booth officer fired a warning shot which struck the security concrete wall. The rifle shot had the desired effect and the aggressors stopped and again assumed a prone position. The inmates complied with staff orders to be placed in restraints. The victim sustained several stab wounds.
April 2008
April 18 - An inmate approached the dining hall without a state issued blue shirt. Staff informed the inmate he would not be allowed into the dining area without a shirt. The inmate disregarded staff and continued walking into the dining area. Staff approached the inmate and instructed him to submit to handcuffs. The inmate refused, staff then utilized OC pepper spray. After being sprayed, the inmate charged the Officers; one of the Officers slipped in the pepper spray and fell to the ground. The inmate began kicking the Officer in the chest. Responding staff restrained the inmate by utilizing batons. The Facility B inmates that were on the yard became disruptive during the incident by yelling and some refused to get down on the ground. Code Three responders arrived and all inmates on the yard were placed into restraints. Facility B will be placed on modified program pending an investigation into the incident. The Facility Sergeant received a possible broken hand; one staff was struck in the head with a baton and received a large contusion to the head. A third Officer injured his back responding to the incident. The three Officers were transported to an outside hospital for treatment. The inmate received abrasions and was placed in ASU.
April 13 - 10 to 15 black inmates engaged in a riot on the Facility D lower yard. Staff used OC pepper spray and two mini 14 warning shots to stop the melee. There were no staff injuries and no serious injuries to the inmates. One inmate manufactured weapon was discovered. The black population will be placed on modified program pending investigation into this incident. The inmates involved in the riot were re-housed in ASU.
April 10 - Two inmates engaged in mutual combat on Facility D yard. Staff gave verbal orders for the inmates to get down in a prone position; to which the inmates did not comply. Staff utilized three pocket grenades and six direct impact rounds to quell the incident. Four of the six rounds struck its intended target. The two inmates sustained injuries consistent with being involved in mutual combat. Both inmates were re-housed in their assigned housing units.
March 2008
March 25 - During Facility C Yard afternoon activities, two inmates engaged in mutual combat. Staff utilized two Exact Impact rounds and one Stinger round to quell the incident. Both inmates were medically evaluated and determined to have sustained knee injuries. No staff were injured as a result of the incident.
March 20 - During Facility D Yard Morning Yard activities, two inmates attacked and battered another inmate. Staff utilized OC pepper spray, two Pocket Grenades and one Exact Impact round to quell the incident. All involved inmates were medically evaluated. It was determined that one assailant inmate sustained abrasions to the back of his head and neck. The other assailant inmate did not sustain any injuries. The victim inmate was determined to have abrasions to both hands.
March 19 - An inmate attacked another inmate while walking to the morning meal. Staff utilized OC pepper spray and one Stinger round to quell the incident. The assailant inmate was medically evaluated and was determined to not have sustained any injuries. The victim inmate was medically evaluated and determined to have a cut near his eye and a fractured cheekbone.
March 13 - During dayroom activities in Facility D, two inmates engaged in mutual combat. Staff utilized one Exact Impact Round to quell the incident. The round struck one inmate in the leg. The other inmate sustained abrasions to his face and shoulder.
March 10 - An inmate attempted to murder another inmate on the Facility C exercise yard. Staff used one Pocket Grenade to stop the incident. The victim inmate received a 10-inch laceration to the front of his neck after being slashed with a razor blade. The victim inmate was medically treated and re-housed in ASU. The assailant inmate was not injured and he was re-housed in ASU.
February 2008
February 27 - Two inmates assaulted another inmate. Staff used OC pepper spray to stop the inmates from fighting. All three inmates were placed in ASU. The attacked inmate was taken to an outside hospital for treatment of his injuries.
February 14 - Two inmates attacked another inmate with an inmate manufactured weapon during afternoon yard activities. The combative inmates complied with staff ordered to get down. Therefore no force was utilized. The inmate manufactured weapon was made from flat metal stock measuring approximately 5-and-a-quarter inches in length and sharpened to a point at the end. The victim was medically evaluated and transported to the Correctional Treatment Center for further treatment. The two inmate assailants were re-housed in ASU.
February 14 - Two inmates engaged in mutual combat during morning yard activities. Staff utilized one 40mm Exact Impact round to quell the incident. Both inmates were medically evaluated; one with no injuries and the other inmate sustained minor injuries.
February 8 - During dayroom activities, nine 415/Crip inmates became involved in a riot. Staff utilized thirteen 40 mm Direct Impact rounds, four Stinger rounds and OC pepper spray to end the disturbance. One inmate sustained multiple head injuries and was transported to an outside hospital for treatment. All other inmates involved sustained minor injuries. All nine inmates were re-housed in Administrative Segregation.
January 2008
January 17 - Two inmates attacked and battered another inmate during morning yard activities on Facility C, Yard 1. Staff were required to six exact impact rounds and two CN pocket grenades to stop the assault. The inmates sustained minor injuries.
January 15 - On an exercise yard, two inmates broke the ribs and the jaw of another inmate during an assault. The victim was sent to an outside hospital and the attackers were re-housed in Administrative Segregation.
January 12 - Two southern Hispanic inmates stabbed another inmate approximately 30 times. An officer fired a round from a mini-14 to stop the deadly assault. The round struck one attacker and severed his thumb. The inmate who was stabbed was airlifted to a Reno hospital. The attacking inmate with the severed thumb was housed at an outside hospital. The other assailant was re-housed in Administrative Segregation.
