Riot in Illinois correctional center ends peacefully with lockdown

Southeast Missourian

ULLIN, Ill. -- Inmates at the Tri-County Correctional Center in Ullin emerged peacefully Friday night after locking themselves in a room and setting fire to mattresses and books.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., when the inmates locked themselves in a housing area of the jail. The Illinois State Police and Pulaski County Sheriff's Department responded by setting up a perimeter around the building and ordering inmates to exit the room. The inmates refused and tear gas was fired into the room, according to the state police.

By 9:20 p.m. the last of the 46 inmates had emerged and been locked down, with no injuries to inmates or officers, police said. Authorities said there's no chance of another uprising because the inmates are now being individually housed.

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Department is investigating the riot and state charges could be coming from the Pulaski County state's attorney, state police said.