Prisoners at the Gila County Detention Center in Globe were frustrated with new out-of-cell procedures set in place, so last week took matters into their own hands, barricading themselves in their block and refusing to return to their cells.

But resistance was short-lived, as the Globe Police Department arrived on the scene within minutes to quell the mini uprising with a show of force.

According to a press release from the office of Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepherd, on July 17, 2018, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Gila County Detention staff observed a group of inmates covering cameras in the minimum and maximum-security facility, using mattresses to barricade the entry gate into the housing unit.

When the inmates refused to return to their cells, a call went out to all available law enforcement units in the area.

Officers from the Globe Police Department quickly arrived on the scene and were able to get the situation in hand.

According to acting Globe Police Chief Bob Folker, when the call came over the radio he and two other officers headed over to the jail and were there within a few minutes.

“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 brought along riot equipment, including a beanbag shotgun. The officers began to cut down the mattresses that had been secured with bedsheets 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 inmates were given a final chance to voluntarily lockdown. They complied and the disturbance was quelled without incident.

“The situation had to do with ‘out of cell’ time,” Sheriff’s Office Chief Administrative Officer Sarah White said. “The facility needed to do something to address inmate behavior, so they changed or reduced the time inmates spent out of their cells.”

Detention Commander Major Justin M. Solberg said the disturbance took place in the north housing unit that holds medium to maximum security inmates: the ones accused of crimes like kidnap and murder, etc.

“We’ve been having issues with them going back about six weeks,” Solberg said. “Some of the inmates were assaulting other inmates, so we instituted a modified schedule that has been in effect for about five weeks.”

Inmates were placed on alternating lockdown times in the housing unit. The group that was trying to exert authority on the other inmates did not feel as if the new schedule was fair, according to Solberg.

“The change was an attempt to modify the behavior of the larger group, Solberg said. “It was an internal thing. They were trying to establish their own self-governance.”

He added that as the behavior continued, something had to be done so the offending inmates would “treat people with respect.”

“We always strive to restore order without using force,” Solberg said. “There were 15 officers ready to go in there.”

In the end, Timothy Patrick Lynch, 35, of Globe was arrested for inciting a riot or protest at the jail.

Responding agencies were the Globe Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Gila County Sheriff’s Office.

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

The Detention facility’s capacity is about 220 with 40 beds for female inmates. The housing units are classified from low-level crimes to more high-profile crimes, and most inmates are there for six to eight months awaiting trial, Solberg said.