Inmates Back In Cells After Prison Takeover At Stillwater Facility

BAYPORT, MN — About 100 inmates at the Stillwater state prison have returned to their cells after they refused to do so for hours Sunday, when the facility was put on emergency lockdown, according to reports.

The situation was resolved peacefully after inmates took part in a demonstration to draw attention to conditions at the prison from about 8 a.m. to roughly 4 p.m., KSTP reported, noting the facility remained on lockdown Sunday evening.

The inmates were brought into a common area to shower Sunday and refused to go back to their cells, KARE 11 reported, adding staff were taken out of common areas, but two corrections officers remained in a secure control area in the unit where they were safe.

No injuries were reported but crisis negotiation and special operations response teams were activated, according to KARE 11, which reported about 1,100 other inmates remained in their cells during the incident.

The demonstration was related to a lack of clean water, ice and showers for inmates due to understaffing, Michelle Gross, of Communities United Against Police Brutality, told the Star Tribune.

The inmates also wanted more time outside their cells and were communicating with prison leadership during the demonstration, according to KARE 11.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections did not respond Sunday to requests for information, but a spokesperson for the department told KSTP that inmates had experienced limited shower access related to "staffing challenges," although he said claims regarding lack of clean water were "patently false."

In a prepared statement, leadership for the union representing workers at the prison weighed in on Sunday's events.

“Today’s incident at MCF- Stillwater is endemic and highlights the truth behind the operations of the MN Department of Corrections with chronic understaffing leading to upset offenders due to the need to restrict programming and/or recreation time when there are not enough security staff to protect the facility," said Bart Andersen, interim executive director of ASFCME Council 5.

“Without more staffing in our correctional facilities with talented people, we will continue down this unacceptable road of staff assaults, offenders controlling sections of our prisons, and more."