By Staff Report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events at the Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center, four inmates found themselves hospitalized following a riot that erupted on Saturday afternoon. The disturbance unfolded around 4:15 p.m. on March 28, when a call for assistance was made by the facility’s officials due to a suicidal threat from one of the juvenile inmates.
According to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD), the situation quickly escalated when staff opened the door to the pod in response to the threat. Seizing the opportunity, several juveniles bolted into other pods, triggering chaos throughout the facility. The resulting riot caused extensive damage, with several thousand dollars’ worth of property being destroyed. The damage included broken windows, emptied fire extinguishers, torn-off water fountains, and wrecked furniture.
Amid the turmoil, scanner reports revealed that one juvenile suffered a seizure while another sustained a cut. Ultimately, a total of four juveniles were transported to Shands hospital for medical evaluation. Fortunately, none of the injuries are considered life-threatening.
The incident remains under active investigation as authorities work to piece together the events that led to this outbreak of violence and chaos.
