15 Hurt in Racial Brawl at Pitchess
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CASTAIC — A racial brawl involving 129 inmates at the Pitchess Detention Center on Tuesday resulted in 15 minor injuries, according to authorities.
The fight between African Americans and Latinos broke out at about 2:45 p.m. at the East Facility dormitory, said Deputy Bob Killeen, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Among the weapons used during the fight, which lasted only a few minutes, according to Killeen, were broomsticks.
Killeen said the fight was believed to have arisen over personal property.
At first, deputies brought the fighting under control by using verbal commands, authorities said. But the fighting erupted again, forcing deputies to use two nonlethal “stingball” grenades to calm it down again.
No deputies were injured in the incident, according to Deputy Angie Prewett.
One inmate was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for treatment of an eye injury, Killeen said. Two received sutures for facial lacerations at the center’s clinic and 12 others were treated there for less serious injuries.
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