The lockdown at the Allegheny County Jail has been partially lifted.
Warden Orlando Harper announced Wednesday the rolling back of restrictions placed on the facility after 11 employees were sickened starting Sunday night by an unknown substance.
“Effective immediately, the lockdown has been lifted for all pods with the exception of 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, Level 6 and Level 7. Segregation units 8E and 4F will operate as normal,” Mr. Harper said in a statement.
Out of 35 open pods at the jail, 12 remain on lockdown, said county spokeswoman Amie Downs.
Some of them are where the employees were sickened, Ms. Downs said, although she noted that other pods where jail staff reported ill effects had been removed from the lockdown.
"The determination to release these 23 from lockdown was based on a variety of factors, but due to safety and security reasons, the warden is not prepared to provide detail on those considerations at this time," Ms. Downs said.
The jail, an eight-story building, housed 2,340 inmates as of Wednesday afternoon.
“Those pods released from the lockdown have been authorized for full recreation and split recreation (only half the pod at a time will be released for recreation). Inmates housed on those pods will also be allowed telephone, commissary and programming” the warden's statement said.
During the lockdown, inmates were restricted to their cells and telephone calls and recreation were prohibited.
Authorities aggressively searched for contraband amid the belief that illegal drugs smuggled into the jail caused nine corrections officers and two medical staffers to take ill with dizziness and high blood pressure.
“We are continuing the search of the facility and will re-evaluate the release of the remaining pods from lockdown on an ongoing basis. These steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of all those at the facility — from inmates under our control and custody, to our employees, volunteers and visitors. That safety remains our number one priority,” Mr. Harper said.
A lockdown at the state’s 25 prisons entered its eighth day — although restrictions are being eased — in response to similar bouts of mysterious illnesses afflicting mostly staff at multiple institutions. Authorities believe the ailments are connected to inmate use of cannabinoids, or synthetic marijuana such as K-2 or spice.
Gov. Tom Wolf and Corrections Secretary John Wetzel earlier Wednesday announced new statewide security measures.
Jonathan D. Silver: jsilver@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1962 or on Twitter @jsilverpg.
First Published: September 5, 2018, 7:27 p.m.
Updated: September 5, 2018, 11:19 p.m.
