UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: According to police, all 35 inmates have returned to their jail cells. The situation is now under control.
Authorities say the inmates were upset about the mashed potatoes and gravy served at lunch, which is why they refused to go back to their cells.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Butler County Sheriff Kelly Herzet says 35 inmates are refusing to get into back their cells.
“They won’t lockdown,” says Herzet. “There are a total of 50 inmates in that particular POD. But, right now 15 have gotten back into their cells. The other 35 are just refusing to get back in.”
Herzet is not saying the situation is violent with inmates, but he is calling in a lot of resources to help solve the problem. Herzet says he’s calling in El Dorado police, nearby Augusta police, the county SWAT team and a “special prison team” from the nearby El Dorado Corrections Facility, a maximum security prison.
Helicopter just landed at the #ButlerCounty jail. Sheriff says inmates refusing lockdown. @KWCH12 pic.twitter.com/Ptzmkfn2OY
— Deedee Sun (@KWCHDeedee) July 10, 2016
“KDOC teams (Kansas Department of Corrections) have some expertise in lockdowns and they have suits they use for this type of situation,” says Herzet.
Herzet says it started around 12:30 p.m., just after lunch.
“There were some complaints about the food, we know that much,” says Herzet. “We have to separate them and get them back into their cells, and they just won’t do that. Nobody is hurt at this time. No Butler County Detention folks are hurt. No inmates are hurt. But, we want to get this taken care of soon.”
This story is developing. Stay with 41 Action News for the latest.
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