News Releases

Pacific Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DISTURBANCE AT KENT INSTITUTION

AGASSIZ, BC, November 8, 2008 - Kent Institution is currently locked down following a disturbance in F Block.

At approximately 1900 hours F Block inmates were in the gymnasium and a fight broke out. The staff responded and returned the inmates to their block where they refused to lock up. Several inmates proceeded into the yard behind the block and attempted to breach the fence and gain access to the roof. Gas was deployed into the yard and the inmates became compliant.

The Emergency Response Team attended the Institution and moved the inmates to segregation. F Block was secured and the Institution was locked down.

The RCMP attended the scene and helped secure the perimeter adjacent to F Block yard.

One staff member was sent to outside hospital for assessment and later released.

The institution will remain locked down to facilitate the investigation and a search.

Kent Institution is a federal maximum-security institution located 120 kilometers east of Vancouver. The institution currently houses 229 inmates.

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For further information media representatives may contact:

Whitney Mullin
Acting/Assistant Warden Management Services
Office 604-796-4404
Cell Phone 604-819-3962