News Releases

Atlantic Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RENOUS, NB, April 17, 2005 - At approximately 18:45 hrs on Saturday, April 16, 2005, 28 inmates from Unit 1 at the Atlantic Institution refused to come in from the yard.

Three fights broke out in the yard resulting in two warning shots being fired. A total of 18 rounds of gas were used throughout the evening.

As a result, the Institutional Crisis Center was opened at 22:11. The RCMP was notified as well as the local fire department and ambulance services were on stand by.

The Warden read the Riot Act to the inmates at 23:50 and shortly after they agreed to come back to their cell two at a time.

At this time the amount of damage has not been determined. No staff or inmates have been injured.

All inmates in the institution are presently secured in their cells.

Atlantic Institution houses 207 inmates in three separate units. It is a maximum-security institution located in the village of Renous, New Brunswick.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Brian Richard
(506) 623-4129