2 stabbings occur at prison near Atmore in last 5 days

William C. Holman Correctional Facility has been on lockdown over the last five days after two stabbings and a riot took place at the maximum-security prison just outside of Atmore.

On Fri., March 11, at approximately 9:15 p.m., an inmate inside one of the dormitories assaulted and stabbed a correctional officer who was trying to break up a fight between inmates, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

“When Warden Carter Davenport and other officers entered the dorm to assess the situation, Warden Davenport was stabbed,” an ADOC press release said. “Davenport remained at the prison and was treated on-site for his injuries. The injured officer was transported to an offsite medical facility. Davenport and the officer’s injuries are reported as non-life threatening. No other officers were injured.”

After the assault on Friday, some 100 inmates were able to gain access to a hallway outside of the dormitory and started a fire. The ADOC then deployed three correctional emergency response teams (CERT) to the facility, where they were able to enter the dorm, detain the inmates and secure the area, a release said. No other areas in the prison were affected.

ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn said during a press conference Tuesday that the CERT team gained control of the area at 3:15 a.m., and the team proceeded to search the area, where they found contraband and cell phones.

Some of the inmates published photos and video of the riot on social media.

The inmates involved in the assault were segregated from the prison’s general population.

In response to the incident Friday, Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said his officers helped guard the perimeter of the prison Friday night and Saturday morning.

Brooks said he was contacted about the incident between 10:30-11 p.m. Friday, and officers were already responding to the prison.

On Mon., March 14, another stabbing took place at approximately 8:30 a.m. after officers responded to an inmate-on-inmate stabbing.

“When officers tried to gain control of the situation, a group of inmates inside the dorm became aggressive and barricaded themselves in not before the officers exited safely,” Dunn said.

Dunn said the CERT team was deployed again to regain control of the dorm, which was done without incident. Order was restored to Holman at 2:45 p.m. on Monday.

Criminal charges are pending against the inmates who were involved in Friday’s incident, and the prison is secured and will remain on lockdown until the ADOC completes its investigation.

For complete coverage of the riot and stabbings at Holman, visit our website at www.atmoreadvance.com.