Monday incident results in Menard lockdown
<span>A Monday morning incident involving roughly 25 inmates resulted in Menard Correctional Center in Chester being placed on lockdown.</span>
<span>Ty Peterson, staff representative at AFSCME Council 31, told the Herald Tribune on Thursday that shots were fired by correctional officers during the inmate-on-inmate incident in an attempt to bring the situation under control.</span>
<span>"There was an incident on the yard," Peterson said. "No correctional officers were injured in the altercation."</span>
<span>There is no word at this point if any inmates suffered injuries. </span>Peterson said he does not know what sparked the incident at the maximum-security facility.
<span>"The union never knows as (IDOC) doesn't tell us," he said. "If we ever know, we're the last to know what happened."</span>
<span>According to the Illinois Department of Corrections' website, Menard was listed as being on lockdown with no visits allowed.</span>
<span>"The DOC changed the terminology last fall to 'feeding in,'" Peterson said. "That's how they reference the facility now and it's not like a total lockdown.</span>
<span>"It's kind of a touchy thing, but it's just part of their way not to say the facility is on lockdown."</span>
<span>Peterson said there will be times the facility does a "feeding in" and not be on lockdown.</span>
<span>"But this particular instance could be considered a lockdown," he said.</span>
UPDATE AT 4:19 P.M.:
<span>In an emailed response to the Herald Tribune, IDOC spokeswoman Nicole Wilson said IDOC officials are still investigating the incident that involved "multiple" inmates at Menard.</span>
<span>"No correctional officers were injured, but one inmate suffered a broken hand," Wilson wrote. "Others suffered minor injuries associated with a fight like scrapes and bruising."</span>
<span>Wilson said it is too soon to determine whether any inmates will face charges for their involvement in the fight.</span>
"However, once the investigation is complete, we will ensure the proper internal disciplinary charges are administered and if warranted, criminal charges will be brought forth," she said.
Wilson said no motive for the fight has been determined and she is not sure how long Menard will remain on lockdown.