At approximately 7:00 p.m. last night, four inmates in the high security area of the Larimer County Jail engaged in a disturbance causing the jail’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) to be activated and a K-9 unit to be brought into the facility.
The four inmates threw fecal matter throughout the common area and flooded their cells, which then caused flooding in the common area. The inmates refused numerous times to follow the commands of jail staff to lock down and stop the disturbance.
After the SERT team arrived, the inmates barricaded themselves in their cells. Larimer County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Oso was also used to attempt to gain compliance, although there was no physical contact between Oso and any of the inmates. Immediately, one of the inmates agreed to cooperate and was removed from his cell and transferred to another area.
Attempts made by the SERT team to enter the other cells were unsuccessful. While special tools to open the cell doors were being brought to the area, Captain Tim Palmer, the jail administrator, spoke with the inmates and convinced them to cooperate. The remaining three inmates then unblocked their doors and, in turn, were removed from their cells and taken to other areas within the jail.
The other three inmates located in this area all cooperated fully. They were temporarily moved to other areas of the jail while the common area and cells were cleaned.
Pending the completion of the investigation and determination of charges, the names of the inmates involved are being withheld.
Potential charges include Rioting in a Detention Facility (Colorado Revised Statute 18-8-211), a class five felony with a minimum sentence of two to ten years served consecutively; 2nd Degree Assault on a Peace Officer (18-03-203(f.5)(I)), a class four felony, Criminal Mischief (Colorado Revised Statute 18-4-501), a misdemeanor, and Obstructing Government Operations, (Colorado Revised Statute 18-8-102), a class three misdemeanor.
It is unknown at this time what, if anything, may have triggered the disturbance. There were no injuries.
The charge(s) are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.