Santa Cruz County Jail inmates make barricades after complaints of chilly temperatures

Inmates at Santa Cruz County Jail created barricades after complaints that the temperature inside their housing units were too cold.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said maintenance had been working to increase the temperature above 70 degrees and in the mean time, jail staff provided the male inmates with extra blankets.

However on Tuesday the inmates refused complying with correctional staff and used mattresses as makeshift barricades.

Some inmates even prepared tools to use as weapons, said the Sheriff’s Office.

“Despite hours of Correctional staff attempting to resolve and deescalate the disturbance, the inmates ultimately refused to follow lawful directives,” said Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s.

Sheriff’s Office staff entered the housing unit around 2 p.m. and was able to restore order. None of the inmates or Sheriff’s Office staff suffered any serious injuries.