6-hour standoff in Dartmouth jail left more than $200K in damages

A six-hour standoff between inmates and staff left a Massachusetts prison completely destroyed and with more than $200,000 worth of damages, officials said on Monday. 

Photos released by the police show the brutal aftermath of the hours-long battle on Friday at the Bristol County House of Correction in North Dartmouth, about 60 miles from Boston after the prisoners trashed the facility. 

The photos show how the inmates used sharpened furniture to make hammers, axes, and shivs, which were used to destroy doors and windows in the facility. In addition, the pictures show damaged toilets, broken fans, broken beds, smashed electronics, and holes in the wall, among other damages. Officials claim that the damages caused by the inmates amount to more than $200,000.

Massachusetts jail left in shambles after inmates trashed the place in 6 hour standoff.

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The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office said the stand-off began when the inmates were going to be moved to new housing units to allow for construction at the jailhouse, which was meant to add toilets, door locks, and suicide-resistant bunk beds to the cells. However, the inmates refused to be moved for the renovations to take place. 

As tensions increased, correctional officers left the area to avoid becoming hostages and locked the doors to the area. The inmates then took over that part of the prison and presented a list of demands from the jail staff, said Sheriff Paul Heroux. 

About 130 to 150 officers were deployed to the prison. When they arrived they subdued the inmates with flashbangs and pepper spray. No officials or prisoners were injured during the stand-off, the police said. 

“The fact that no one, no officer or inmate, got hurt shows that we made the right call on when to move in,” said Heroux. “We likely could've taken back the unit without waiting for more help, but officers or inmates likely would have been injured.”

Massachusetts jail left in ruin after chaotic 6-hour standoff between inmates and staff leads to $200,000 in damages https://t.co/dMJfx8knoN pic.twitter.com/X0PvDSHp9Y

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Nearly 20 inmates who were identified as the “ringleaders” are expected to be charged with destruction of property and will be removed from the prison. 

“Ultimately, the funds [for repairs] will come from our budget or the state Department of Capital Asset Management,” Darling noted. “We will seek restitution from the inmates who face charges in connection with the standoff.”