A group of about 30 prisoners locked themselves in their pod to make demands of detention center staff, but the Globe Police Department arrived quickly on the scene to get the situation in hand.

According to acting Globe Police Chief Bob Folker, a call came over the radio at about 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 17 requesting any available officers to head to the Gila County Detention Center to help quell the situation.

“About 30 inmates barricaded themselves in their pod, refusing to lock down,” Folker said. “They tied mattresses to the doors of their cells so we couldn’t see them and they wouldn’t back down when detectives told them to disperse.”

Folker, along with Lieutenant Justin Keeling and Officer Cody Hudson were at the facility within minutes and made contact with a detention sergeant.

The officers brought along necessary riot equipment, including a beanbag shotgun. The officers began to cut down the mattresses that had been secured with clothing items and displayed the weapons to the inmates.

“Once they saw the display of force, they decided to lock down,” Folker said. “They decided they didn’t want to venture down that road.”

The incident lasted about 15 minutes, according to Folker.

The Globe department provided initial response and were followed by several departments, including the Arizona Department of Public Safety and deputies from the Gila County Sheriff’s Department.

“Our officers did a fantastic job in this situation,” Folker concluded. “And nobody got hurt.”

Check back later for an update to this report.