Prison locked down after string of violent incidents

Dept. of Corrections is investigating to see if incidents are related

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

WOODBRIDGE – Two separate incidents involving seven corrections officers and 11 inmates caused officials to lock down the East Jersey State Prison on Rahway Avenue during the three-day Labor Day weekend.

Another incident occurred Sept. 6 at 6 p.m., involving an inmate assaulting an officer, officials said.

“At the time, the prison was on reduced activity,” said Deirdre Fedkenheuer, spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections. “The officer was sent out for treatment and released.”

The first incident occurred at 11 a.m. Sept. 1, as corrections officers were escorting inmates from the visitation hall back to their cells, officials said.

“One of the inmates hit an officer and another inmate started assaulting the same officer,” said Matt Schuman, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections.

After the first incident, three corrections officers were sent out for treatment and the two inmates were moved to administrative detention and then to another prison in the state, officials said.

At 1 p.m. Sept. 1, four officers were injured in an altercation with nine inmates in the exercise yard, officials said.

“Basically, the inmates were not doing what they were being told and were confronted by the officers,” Schuman said.

After the second incident, the four corrections officers were sent out for treatment and the nine inmates were relocated to other prisons in the state, officials said.

“Six officers were treated and released, and one officer stayed overnight for a CAT scan because he took a [blow] to the jaw,” said Schuman.

Schuman said officers did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, but some had broken wrists and fingers.

The Special Investigations Division has been investigating all three incidents since Sept. 1.

“Two incidents on the same day … are usually unheard of,” said Schuman. “One of the things the department detectives are looking into is to determine if the two incidents are related.”

Schuman said it was a possibility that the 12 inmates would be charged in the incidents, but as of Sept. 10 none of the prisoners had been charged.

The prison was locked down, which meant the inmates were confined to their cells and there was limited programming, and no visitations were permitted. The annual Family Day event over the Labor Day weekend, where inmates can meet with their families, was postponed.

The prison was functioning as normal on Sept. 10; however, Family Day has not been rescheduled, officials said.