VALDOSTA —
For the second time this week, a violent conflict within the walls of the Valdosta State Prison left several inmates injured.
Six inmates were involved in the incident Friday afternoon, requiring four prisoners to be transferred to a hospital, said Gwendolyn Hogan, Georgia Department of Corrections media spokesperson. “Currently, the department is investigating.”
She said the inmates “sustained minor injuries.”
While the cause of Friday’s incident was not released, the injured inmates apparently received a variety of stab wounds, according to reports. One inmate reportedly sustained multiple injuries to his neck, back and upper torso and exhibited signs of paralysis. Another inmate reportedly suffered a stab wound to his left arm and lower back.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. Friday, with ambulances and corrections vehicles arriving and leaving during the next 45 minutes.
Four ambulances arrived at Valdosta State Prison and transported the prisoners to South Georgia Medical Center, according to Times personnel outside of both the prison and the hospital. Three ambulances left the prison as a fourth one arrived. The ambulances were accompanied by DOC vans to the hospital.
SGMC could not discuss the number of inmates or their conditions, but with four to six inmates possibly arriving Friday afternoon and an estimated eight to 10 inmates receiving treatment following Wednesday’s incident, the hospital acknowledged having policies in place to handle prisoners.
“South Georgia Medical Center has two separate policies that clearly define the ways prisoners are treated in our facilities,” said Laura Love, SGMC community relations director. “Under our Environment of Care plan, we have a Secure Environment Management Plan and under our general policies and procedures, we have a policy called Prisoner/Forensic: Care of Incarcerated Patients. These policies outline the ways all prisoners are treated, even those from surrounding counties and jurisdictions.”
While Love could not define the details of these policies, she said, “The goal of our hospital is to maintain a safe and secure environment. In addition to other safety measures, SGMC requires that incarcerated/prisoner patients be guarded at all times by the custodial agency responsible for the prisoner.”
A Lowndes County sheriff’s deputy also arrived at the hospital amidst the entourage of ambulances and five state prison vans.
Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine said corrections officials did not request his deputies’ assistance in quelling either Wednesday or Friday’s incidents inside of the prison; however, his office has staff trained to enter the prison to help squelch inmate disturbances, violence, riots, etc.
“We’re on standby,” Prine said. “If they called us, we come running.”
Prior to being sheriff, Prine served on a Georgia State Patrol team that entered prisons in cases of inmate disturbances. Given his personal experiences and his staff’s training, he has no qualms sending sheriff’s personnel into the prison if the call comes.
The Times called Valdosta State Prison Warden William Danforth for comment, but a prison representative referred a request for comment to the state DOC’s media office.
Between noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 4, an estimated eight to 10 inmates were injured following a gang-related fight inside the Valdosta State Prison’s common area. Two corrections officers were reportedly injured while attempting to break up the fight. The incident also reportedly included homemade knives, or shanks, and other weapons.
These incidents follow several violent altercations reported during the last three years at Valdosta State Prison and other Georgia correctional facilities. The Times has reported on previous cases within area prisons, including the manufacture of homemade weapons. In 2011, a Valdosta State Prison inmate died from multiple stab wounds. Area physicians, former corrections officers and family members have reported knife-like weapons causing severe eye injuries to inmates and corrections officers.
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