St. Louis Inmate Revolt Put Down at Workhouse

Authorities quelled an attempt by inmates to take over a wing of a medium-security city workhouse.

The north St. Louis facility, which houses about 1,290 inmates, was put on lock-down.

The uprising started when 53 prisoners attempted to seize control of a living area, said Dora Schriro, commissioner of the city’s division of corrections.

No employees were injured. About 10 inmates were being evaluated for injuries, Schriro said.

Two guards escaped the area where the disturbance started and locked the prisoners inside as they left, Schriro said.

About 10 inmates resisted when officers reclaimed the wing 30 minutes after the uprising began, but she said they were restrained with “minimal force.”

There was no immediate indication that weapons were used.

There were reports that the inmates were upset over their visitation rights being taken away. But Schriro said there was no complex-wide denial of visitation, although some inmates may not have been eligible for it.