TUCSON, Ariz. — Inmate access to WIFI is at the center of a standoff at the Pima County jail nearly a month ago. Sources tell us 36 inmates refused to lock down on March 21st.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department tells KGUN9 the inmates were upset over temporarily losing access to WIFI on their tablets. The inmates demanded their WIFI be turned back on immediately. Lt. Elsa Navarro says, "When that didn't happen, the inmates got upset and thought that refusing to lock down would get the WIFI turned back on ASAP."
Navarro says the incident happened during a shift change and the pod officer called for backup. As staff started showing up, they ordered the inmates to lockdown several times, but they refused.
Sources say when enough staff, about 60 officers, arrived, they overpowered the inmates.
Navarro says 14 inmates were written up. "Out of those, 6 were removed from the housing unit for refusing staff directives and their continued disruptive behavior." She says staff was able to take control of the situation quickly and effectively.
Sources tell KGUN9 that corrections officers continue to have security concerns over the tablets.
