Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies are investigating Thursday after a jail riot involving 80 inmates caused thousands of dollars in damage, officials said.
After contraband was found inside the Jefferson County jail, officials recently tightened security and inmates lost a “list of privileges,” and inmates displayed their frustration by destroying their living quarters, Jefferson County sheriff’s office spokesman Maj. Lafayette Woods Jr. said in a news release.
Surveillance camera footage showed at least one inmate, who blocked his identity with a shirt or blanket, cover one of two cameras in an open jail pod with what appeared to be water-soaked toilet paper, Woods said.
After the inmates began destroying property, jail officials called for assistance from local law enforcement, he said.
“It is unknown how long the disturbance and damage to property lasted,” Woods said.
No injuries were reported, and an internal investigation by the criminal investigation division is underway.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.