KINCHELOE, MI-- A protest at the Kinross Correctional Facility Saturday left three housing units
unlivable.
That’s from a source familiar with the situation, which contradicts claims by the Michigan Department of Corrections that the protest was largely peaceful.
DOC Public Information Officer Chris Gautz says about 400 prisoners marched in the Kinross yard Saturday morning on the 45th anniversary of the inmate rebellion at Attica prison in New York. The Associated Press says when officials convinced the inmates to return to their cells some smashed sinks, started a small fire, and broke at least one window.
But a source says the situation was much more serious than that. They say several fires were set, forcing Correctional Officers to use air packs in the prison because of heavy smoke. The prisoners also barricaded themselves, threw a washing machine out a window, and caused enough damage that three housing units are now unlivable.
Approximately 500 prisoners were moved from Kinross to other facilities. About 100 went to the Marquette Branch Prison and were put into a previously closed block. Around 40 were transferred to the Alger Maximum Security Facility in Munising.
No prisoners or Kinross employees were hurt.
The facility in Kincheloe houses about 1,200 level I and II offenders.
