FEDERAL OFFICIAL CONFIRMS GILMER PRISON "FIGHT"

(10/05/2010)
The Charleston Gazette is reporting Monday that federal prison officials are saying at least three inmates were hospitalized after a fight late last month at Gilmer County's federal prison.

The prison remains on lockdown.

Traci Billingsley, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., said a fight broke out in the recreation yard on Sept. 23.

Billingsley told the Gazette that two groups of people, about 75 in all, were involved in the fight.

She said guards were able to contain the fight to the recreation yard and no staff members were hurt.

Billingsley did say several inmates were treated for injuries at the prison. Three inmates required treatment at a local hospital and have since returned to the prison, according to the Gazette story.

The spokesperson said local officials would typically not be notified about problems at a federal facility unless there was a danger to the community.

Billingsley declined to say whether the fight was gang-related.

Billingsley's statements to the Gazette are somewhat different or absent in detail from statements made on a prison employee website, first reported by Drew Moody for the Herald.

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