CLALLAM BAY — Prison officials continued easing a lockdown Saturday at Clallam Bay Corrections Center after a brief fight broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the recreation yard, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Agency spokesman Jeremy Barclay said there were no injuries to inmates or staff in the fracas, which he said involved probably about 20 inmates.
“We did use pepper spray during the incident,” Barclay said.
“The disturbance was brought under control within approximately five minutes or less.”
Barclay said he expects an investigation will be completed by midweek.
“We want to make sure to get the investigation done now and make sure we have calm waters at Clallam Bay so we can be fully functioning for Thanksgiving weekend,” he said.
During lockdown, corrections center operations including food-line and laundry services are put on hold, and inmates do not leave their cells.
The most recent lockdown at the corrections center was 41 hours in January 2016, when an officer was assaulted, Barclay said.
The prison has a capacity of 858 inmates.
It incarcerates medium-, close- and maximum-security inmates.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.