By Paula Horton
Tri-City Herald
Walla Walla, Wash. — A medium-custody unit at the Washington State Penitentiary has been locked down after large fight broke out in the dayroom Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-nine prisoners in Unit 6 at the Walla Walla prison have been placed in segregation, said spokeswoman Joni Aiyeku.
One staff member was assaulted during the fight, Aiku said. The staff member and four others were taken to a Walla Walla hospital, but returned back to work after being treated.
Six other staff members reported minor injuries.
Two prisoners were treated a the Penitentiary hospital for minor cuts, she said.
The fight broke out around 1 p.m. in the Unit 6 dayroom. Unit 6 is in the older part of the prison and houses medium custody prisoners. The cause of the fight is unknown.
The unit is expected to remain in locked down until at least Sunday afternoon, while prison officials investigate what happened.
The rest of the prison is operating normally.
Copyright 2009 Tri-City Herald