St. Louis City Justice Center’s inmates rioted Saturday for eight hours, set fire, and threw burning debris to the neighboring streets as crowds gathered to witness the third riot at the facility in few weeks.
The “extremely violent” group was controlled just before 10 a.m. but after the massive destruction of cells, furnishings, and other property.
People watched as debris were thrown out of the windows, some burning, including chairs, and mattresses. Flames could be spotted inside the cells.
“Even though our automated P.A. system would indicate that the cells are locked, they are in fact not locked and so other detainees were able to get out of their cells and into the unit,” St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards said.
Nearly 115 inmates were involved in the unrest that saw officers use tear gas to end the violence.
“There are some burn marks on the front of the building. They destroyed the inside of their floor and threw all sorts of stuff outside…They flooded the floors, clogged the toilets, clogged the drains, so there is water damage,” the Mayor’s spokesman said.
The riot was triggered by numerous restrictions put in place amid the pandemic including limited visits and delayed court proceedings.
