A massive riot involving hundreds of inmates broke out at an Arizona prison where corrections officers deployed 'nonlethal munitions' including pepper balls and rubber bullets into the crowd.
The riot broke out on Wednesday afternoon at Eyman prison’s Cook Unit in Florence, near Phoenix. It’s not clear what prompted the riot.
The unrest exploded after 'several hundred inmates grouped together around staff and refused to disperse,' Arizona Department of Corrections spokeswoman Judy Keane tells DailyMail.com.
A massive riot involving hundreds of inmates broke out in the Cook Unit of Eyman prison in Florence, Arizona on Wednesday, where corrections officers deployed 'nonlethal munitions' including pepper balls and rubber bullets into the crowd. Exterior view of the prison above
Family members of inmates at the unit said that pepper balls and rubber bullets were fired at the inmates, according to KJZZ.
They also said that inmates were zip-tied and held on a yard as prison officials searched the living areas.
Inmates also reported that windows were broken on the property in the riot.
One inmate said the unit looked like it 'exploded'.
'They came in with tear gas, flash bangs, pepper spray, and started shooting them at everyone. It was basically a war zone,' the inmate said.
A view inside the Rynning Unit at Eeyman complex above featuring high-security housing units with steel doors and single or double cells for inmates
Keane said two specialized teams of Department security staff were involved in the incident.
'The Designated Armed Response Team (DART) and Tactical Support Unit (TSU) responded to the incident and deployed nonlethal munitions to gain inmates' compliance with instructions and secure the inmates inside their dorms,' Keane said.
'At no point was public safety jeopardized,' Keane added.
There were no reports of injuries among inmates or staff and the prison unit remained under lockdown through Thursday morning pending further investigation.
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