A fight involving a half-dozen inmates at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan resulted in four of them being transported to the hospital for treatment, sheriff’s officials said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said inmates were seated and receiving meals in accordance with established procedures during the lunch period on Tuesday.
One inmate, with the assistance of another, initiated a “targeted physical attack” against a fellow inmate, Covelli said.
A total of six inmates ultimately became involved in the fight.
The other inmates who were seated for lunch complied with directives and immediately returned to their cells.
Corrections personnel responded “without delay” and used pepper spray to quickly stop the fight, Covelli said.
Corrections staff quickly gained control of the situation and safely removed the involved suspects, preventing further escalation, Covelli said.
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. and the Waukegan Fire Department dispatched four ambulances to the scene for injuries, according to witnesses.
Four inmates were transported to an area hospital for treatment of lacerations suffered during the incident.
Covelli said they were subsequently treated at the hospital and released back into custody.
Sheriff’s detectives are actively investigating the incident, including conducting interviews and reviewing video surveillance in coordination with corrections staff.
Criminal charges will be pursued against those responsible and the involved inmates have been reassigned to a maximum-security housing unit, Covelli added.