A riot at the Livingston County Jail over the weekend prompted Sheriff Steve Cox to shut down the facility’s cell block three and move nine detainees to facilities in other counties.

In a news release, Cox said problems from detainees had been taking place for several days, but escalated on Saturday.  On Saturday night the area was placed on lockdown.

“The majority (if not all) of the men in area 3 began to trash the jail and be even more disruptive,” Cox said.

“Specifically many or all were yelling and screaming profanity, threatening assault upon staff, threatening to throw feces and urine on staff or anyone who came around, beating on their bunks, plugging drains and plumbing, flooding cell pods and the cell area.  Several threw wads of wet toilet paper in attempt to cover the cameras.  The detainees were being so loud it was easily heard in the front lobby of the sheriff’s office.”

Water to the area was shut off to eliminate the attempts being made to flood the jail and sewer system.  Cox says staff members attempted to speak with the detainees but it was evident they were not going to comply or calm down.

Cox says on Sunday morning the inmates were fed dry cereal and toast due to the expectation the food was going to be thrown at staff and/or trustees. 

According to Cox, most if not all of the detainees in the affected area 3 returned to yelling, screaming, and making threats to staff while throwing their cereal.  

“Some of the detainees even made it known they were going to physically assault the sheriff and urinate on him at the first opportunity,” he said.

He spoke with some of the detainees on Sunday.  At least one claimed the staff had tried to torture them by making them smell sewer gas and that they were tired of water backing up in the shower for weeks with nothing being done.  The sheriff did note a slight sewer gas odor in the north east corner of the jail.  He says they have regular, frequent visits from a plumber.

The Livingston County Jail had 41 people in custody over the weekend.  The jail has 48 beds.  Cox says they had several detainees who either had common enemies or were under Court order not to make contact with specific detainees in the jail and therefore could not be placed in cell areas 1 and 2.  Cox says they had no alternative but to move nine detainees to other facilities on Sunday.

They then cleaned up the area and called in a plumber.

Cox says video recordings and other evidence will be part of a detailed report to Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren.