SCI-Fayette back to normal

Inmates at the State Correctional Institution in Fayette County are permitted to receive visitors again.

The Luzerne Township prison was locked down Saturday after a basketball game Friday night ended with a fight involving a dozen inmates. Three prisoners were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.

Superintendent Harry E. Wilson coordinated the controlled movements of inmates throughout the institution Monday and announced that visitors were allowed in accordance with the regular visiting schedule.

During the lockdown, prisoners were held in their cells, and all visits and programs were suspended. Meals were taken to the cells.

A search of the facility was conducted during the weekend. Prison officials said nuisance contraband was found, along with a few weapons.

"Hundreds of employees helped return SCI-Fayette to normal," Wilson said. "From the initial response and search of the institution to the in-cell feeding of the inmates, we worked hard and professionally. I am extremely pleased with the performance of all involved."

State police said any charges resulting from the fight would be filed today.

The fight was the second incident last week at the prison. On May 23, two guards were stabbed by an inmate wielding a "shank," a sharpened piece of metal.

State police at Belle Vernon said inmate Yassin Mohammad, formerly of Philadelphia, used the shank on guards Floyd Addis and Thomas Jellots.

Addis was struck in the left shoulder. Jellots was wounded in his neck and right arm. Both were treated at The Uniontown Hospital and released.

Mohammad is serving a 33- to 62-year sentence for aggravated assault.

Dave La Torre, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, said yesterday the union believes a complete lockdown should have occurred after the May 23 incident.

"It's nice things are returning to normal, but it's unfortunate it had to come to this," La Torre said. "The department needs to be more proactive after our officers are viciously assaulted. If (the lockdown) had been done a week ago, it wouldn't have come to this."

Prison officials shut down and searched the prison's Restricted Housing Area after the attack on the guards.

Friday's incident was not related to the stabbing of the two officers, Wilson said.