Northern Michigan Prison Unit Briefly Controlled By Inmates

CHIPPEWA, MI — Prison staff has regained control of a northern Michigan prison after a part of the facility was taken over by inmates early Monday morning.

Michigan Department of Corrections officials said Monday that the Chippewa Correctional Facility Emergency Response Team has retaken control of the unit that was briefly controlled by inmates. All prisoners have been returned and secured in their cells, officials said.

Prisoners and staff at the prison, which is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, are safe, authorities said. One prisoner who was taken to the hospital due to injuries has been discharged.

According to 9&10 News, around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, a fight begain between three prisoners in a Level 2 security housing unit. Officers Tazed one prisoner, sending him to the hospital by ambulance.

The unit, which has about 235 prisoners, was briefly taken over by an unknown number of inmates who left their cells during and following the fight.

The MDOC Emergency Response Team and U.S. Border Patrol was called to provide extra security and formed a perimeter while confining prisoners to the unit.

Inmates were returned to their cells around 4 a.m. Monday.