Inmate privileges restored

Department of Corrections officials have begun to ease restrictions at the Gunnison prison after a fight between an inmate and a guard forced a lockdown at the facility last week.

The fight occurred Thursday evening after an inmate who is a member of a Tongan gang refused to return to his cell as the facility shut down for the night. After bickering with a corrections sergeant, the inmate threw a punch, striking the officer and splitting his lip, department spokesman Jack Ford said.

Another inmate, who is apparently a member of the same gang, appeared to be "egging him on," Ford added. Corrections officers at the prison said they believe the pair had planned the refusal in order to incite the officer.

The sergeant, a veteran officer whose name was not released by DOC, was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but returned to work after receiving several stitches, Ford said.

Officials locked down the entire prison and canceled the Friday through Sunday visitation days inmates are allowed.

The two inmates involved in the incident were transferred back to the Draper prison and are now being housed in one of the Uinta units, which are specifically for those inmates with known gang affiliations, Ford said.

Uinta inmates must earn their way into general prison housing units through good behavior, Ford said.

On Tuesday, Gunnison officials released inmates recreation time, and those inmates with jobs were allowed to return to work, Ford said. Operations at the prison are expected to return to normal by week's end, with visiting days and phone privileges restored, he added.