Stillwater Prison Under Emergency Lockdown as Inmates Take Over
STILLWATER, Minn. – Chaos erupted at the Stillwater Prison in Minnesota on Sunday morning as a group of inmates took over a section of the facility. The Minnesota Department of Corrections swiftly responded by placing the prison under emergency lockdown.
According to officials, approximately 100 inmates in one living unit refused to return to their cells, prompting the heightened security measures. The Department of Corrections confirmed that two correctional officers are safe in the unit’s secure control area and are in constant communication with command personnel. As a precautionary measure, all DOC staff have been evacuated from the common areas currently occupied by the inmates.
Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries thus far, easing concerns for the well-being of personnel and other inmates. In response to the situation, the Crisis Negotiation Team and the DOC’s Special Operations Response Team have been mobilized.
The AFSCME Council 5, which represents Minnesota correctional officers, issued a statement attributing the incident to chronic understaffing within the Department of Corrections. They argue that the lack of security staff leads to the need to restrict programming and recreation time, frustrating inmates and creating an environment ripe for unrest.
The Stillwater Prison currently houses around 1,200 inmates, according to department records. Notably, the facility made headlines in 2018 when an officer, Joseph Gomm, was brutally murdered by an inmate wielding a hammer.
This is an ongoing story, and WCCO will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.