STILLWATER, Minn. - Five staff members at the Oak Park Heights correctional facility were injured Friday in two separate incidents and the facility was put on lockdown for several hours.
The incident happened around 9:40 a.m. Friday after staff members responded to a report of two offenders in a fight. While trying to separate the two, one offender resisted and two staffers were injured.
Then, at approximately 10:15 a.m., an offender was resisting staff and three people were injured while trying to contain the situation, according to officials.
All injured staff were transported for medical evaluation.
Late Friday afternoon Department of Corrections officials announced "all staff have been released from the hospital and the facility is off lockdown."
Officials with the Department of Corrections state, "The officers’ professional response was essential to maintaining the safety of all individuals at the facility. Our highest priority at the Minnesota Department of Corrections is protecting the safety of our officers and all individuals in our facilities. These incidents will be fully investigated, and the offenders responsible will be held accountable. We commend our corrections officers for their professional response."
Late last month, a correctional officer at Oak Park Heights died following a medical emergency after helping a fellow guard who was attacked by an inmate.
He had been helping to restrain an offender who "repeatedly punched a corrections officer in the face," according to officials. He returned to his post after the incident and had a fatal medical emergency. The correctional facility was placed on lockdown at that time.