El Cajon
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A disturbance that left five inmates injured prompted authorities to impose a lock-down Saturday at the El Cajon Detention Facility, officials said.
Deputies were investigating the cause of the brief melee, which was controlled within five minutes, said Sgt. Roy Stamper of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
The disturbance, described as a fight among inmates, never threatened control of the facility, Stamper said.
Deputies responded from Alpine and Santee, and the El Cajon police also arrived at the scene.
The fight broke out in the 7C housing area, which houses inmates who are not considered troublesome, officials said.
Supervisors imposed a lock-down to allow deputies time to search for weapons and investigate the cause of the dispute. During lock-downs, inmates are restricted to their sleeping quarters.
Five inmates were transferred to area hospitals for treatment of superficial wounds, officials said. Some reported being stabbed with pencils.
An initial search yielded no weapons, Stamper said.
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