Prison fight leaves 14

Second incident this year at Coleman
Complex

Last Edited: Thursday, 12 Mar 2009, 11:31 PM EDT
Created On: Thursday, 12 Mar 2009, 11:25 PM EDT

COLEMAN, Fla. - Authorities say a fight broke out at a federal prison near Orlando, sending fourteen inmates to the hospital.

Officials at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex noticed the fight in the recreation yard shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday and say it was quickly brought under control.

Several inmates were injured, including the fourteen who had to receive outside medical treatment. Eleven were transported via helicopter. There were no reports of prison employees injured. No further details were immediately available. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

This is the second incident requiring the air-lifting of injured inmates to nearby hospitals. A fight broke out on January 26 where eight male inmates were injured, including one shot by prison staff. That brawl began on the recreation yard of the prison northwest of Orlando, and inmates ignored calls to stop, leading prison staff to fire shots.

Coleman has four units which house low to high-security inmates. The prison is located about 50 miles northwest of Orlando and 60 miles northeast of Tampa. That particular unit houses some 1,700 inmates