New racial fighting between black and Hispanic inmates at county jail

Associated Press:

Hispanic and black inmates fought at a Los Angeles County maximum-security jail despite a lockdown that had been instituted a day earlier after interracial fighting left one black prisoner dead.

About 200 inmates fought in two dorms at the North County Correctional Facility late Sunday, with 10 people suffering minor injuries that were treated at the jail, said Deputy Alba Yates of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"Approximately 35 blacks and 170 Hispanics fought along racial lines," Yates said.

Investigators said it wasn't clear if Sunday's fighting was connected to Saturday's riot, which left 45-year-old inmate Wayne Robert Tiznor dead and over other 100 inmates injured.

Prisoners were treated at the facility and a local hospital, and none of the injuries were life-threatening, authorities said.

The lockdown remained in effect early Monday, jail officials said, declining to say how long it might last.

Saturday's riot appeared to be fueled by racial tension and a feud between black and Hispanic gangs, investigators said.

Tiznor was jailed after being arrested Jan. 3 for failing to register as a sex offender, sheriff's officials said.

It was not clear whether Tiznor was singled out, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the county's Sheriff's Department, which operate the jail system.

Black and Hispanic inmates at the facility were segregated after the fighting Saturday.

Authorities normally can't segregate prisoners based on race or ethnicity because it is illegal, but legal advisers said it can be done in emergency situations, Sam Jones, chief custody officer of the county jail system.

About 1,800 to 2,000 inmates were involved in the rioting Saturday that lasted for 30 minutes to an hour, and about 200 inmates engaged in "serious fighting," said Deputy Steve Suzuki, another sheriff's spokesman.

It appeared no weapons were used, but inmates tossed mattresses and banged heads against bunk beds, officials said.

Nonlethal pepper spray projectiles were fired into the melee.

Authorities believe the fight could be connected to the stabbing two days ago of a Hispanic gang member by a black gang member at the downtown Men's Central Jail.

Sheriff Blames Lack of Staff for Jail Riot