7 inmates hurt, 1 seriously, in state prison fight

CARSON CITY — Seven inmates were injured, one seriously, after a fight broke out at a Carson City prison and correctional officers used rubber pellets to stop the incident, officials said Wednesday.

The Department of Corrections said two inmates began fighting during the evening meal Tuesday at Warm Springs Correctional Center, a minimum-security facility.

A blank round was fired after the inmates ignored verbal commands to stop fighting, prison officials said, but the fighting continued.

Three rubber pellets were then fired and officers regained control of the situation.

One inmate involved in the fight was wounded by the pellets and flown to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, where he remained hospitalized Wednesday, officials said. His condition was not released. The other inmate was injured in the fight. He was treated by medical staff and returned to his cell.

Five other inmates not involved in the fight received superficial wounds from the rubber pellets. They, too, were treated on-site by corrections medical staff.

The Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General is investigating the incident, according to the prison system's public information officer who said no further details are available.

Tuesday's incident is the latest in a series of fights and use of force at Nevada prisons in recent months.

In April, an inmate at Ely State Prison sustained eye injuries from birdshot fired from a shotgun after other inmates were involved in a fight. About eight others received minor injuries.

Three inmates suffered minor injuries when guards fired to break up a scuffle in the general population yard at Lovelock Correctional Center in July.

Days later, four inmates were treated after a fight involving about 10 inmates broke out at High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs.

In November, Carlos Manuel Perez Jr., 28, was shot and killed during what was described as a scuffle at High Desert. Another inmate, Andrew Arevalo, was shot in the face. Arevalo's attorney, Alexis Plunkett, has said both inmates were handcuffed behind their backs when the shooting happened.

At the time the Department of Corrections announced that Perez had died but did not disclose the circumstances. The agency did not acknowledge Perez had been shot by a correctional officer until March, after the Clark County coroner's office released its report that said Perez died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The case was turned over to the Nevada attorney general's office, which has yet to release its findings or decision on whether any charges are warranted.

Arevalo and the family of Perez have filed civil lawsuits against state prison officials.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb