By Ben Benton
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.
ALTAMONT, Tenn. — Five inmates have been charged after up to $20,000 worth of damage was done during what authorities describe as a riot in the maximum security pod at the Grundy County Jail in Altamont, Tennessee.
After jail officials were met with a barricade of broken-off mop handles, multiple neighboring law enforcement agencies were called in Aug. 30 to help three jail staff members regain control, according to newly elected Grundy County Sheriff Virgil McNeece. McNeece took office Sept. 1, two days after the incident.
The five inmates, who haven’t yet been named, were charged with aggravated rioting, vandalism over $10,000 and attempted aggravated assault on law enforcement, McNeece said Tuesday by phone. Two of the five inmates were additionally charged with attempted escape. McNeece said all the inmates charged are state prisoners serving their sentences.
“At the time of the incident, 17 inmates were housed in A pod,” McNeece said in a statement he issued on the incident. “A response team was organized, and officers subsequently made entry into the housing unit. Upon entry, officers discovered that inmates had placed sharp, broken mop handles near the entrance of the pod, creating a dangerous obstacle capable of causing serious injury upon entering the area.”
Once the blockade was cleared, McNeece said, officers gained control of the situation without anyone being injured.
Officer Avery McGinness, a detective under outgoing Sheriff Heath Gunter, led the response and managed the facility on Aug. 30 and 31, McNeece said.
“He did an excellent job and handled the situation,” McNeece said.
McGinness has been promoted to captain and is now part of the department’s command staff, McNeece said.
After the incident, McGinness described the situation and thanked neighboring law enforcement agencies in a social media post.
“Last night, a disturbance occurred inside the Grundy County Jail that required additional assistance from outside law enforcement agencies and emergency personnel,” McGinness said in the post. “Due to the nature of the situation, additional resources were requested to ensure it was brought under control quickly and safely. At no time was there any danger or threat to the public, and the incident remained contained to the jail.
“Thank you for the response our agency received last night,” McGinness said to the 10 assisting agencies. “I asked for a hand, and we received an entire army.”
The damage estimate is $15,000 to $20,000 and includes inmate telephones, security cameras, fire alarm systems, entry door windows, skylights and the facility’s sprinkler system, authorities said. The damaged sprinkler system also caused significant flooding.
Repairs are underway and are expected to take about eight weeks to complete, officials said. Some paused jail programs will be reinstated once repairs are complete.
” The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office will not tolerate destruction of county property, attempts to escape custody or actions that place correctional officers or other inmates in danger,” McNeece said.
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