Last night TPSO said the jail returned to normal operations following a smoke emergency earlier in the afternoon.
In response to that emergency, as safety inspections were being conducted by various agencies, the majority of the inmate population was put into evacuation protocol which had various groups of inmates and staff displaced throughout the grounds. Part of this protocol includes calling on numerous law enforcement partners to enhance staffing numbers and security resources to ensure custody, control and safety remained in effect at all times.
During the waiting period of the evacuation process, a few inmates were involved in disturbances in the middle yard. Deputies deployed pepper spray to disperse those disturbances and removed all of the inmates involved. Everyone who reported being affected was provided medical attention.
TPSO wants to thank the community for understanding the heightened measures they put in place for this type of emergency response and show much appreciation for fellow law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies for their quick response as well as Tangipahoa Parish Government for their support.
