Lockdowns spark jail uprising

FARMINGTON — Inmates apparently fed up with construction work at the Davis County Jail sparked an uprising, refusing to go back into their cells.

"They were mad," Davis County Sheriff's Capt. Bob Yeaman said Friday. "They said they were going to get even and not lock down."

The inmates had spent as much as 12 hours in lockdown last week. Yeaman said the inmates were placed in lockdown to sleep, then there were lockdowns for meals, medical service and for construction work being done on an expansion of the jail.

"We had construction going on that day during the day. We had some maintenance and an inspection. Anytime we have that we lock down," he said.

When it came time to lock down again for the night at about 11 p.m., Yeaman said dozens of the inmates refused to go into their cells on Oct. 6. Deputies managed to convince many to go into their cells, but 18 still refused.

"We let them stay out all night," Yeaman said.

By 6 a.m. Saturday morning, the Davis County Jail's tactical team went in to make the inmates return to their cells. In full riot gear, they ordered the inmates to the ground, handcuffed them and moved them to a more secure area of the jail. The takedown took place in about 9 minutes.

Two inmates are expected to be charged in Farmington's Justice Court with disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor. Yeaman said inmates Robert John Tate, 26, and Charles Dennis Friedman, 43, instigated the uprising by telling the other inmates not to obey orders.

The remaining 16 inmates are facing administrative discipline, which includes a revocation of commissary privileges and even more lockdown.

"Some of them have already got 15 days lockdown for it," Yeaman said.

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