Basketball game and Ramen noodles sparks detention center riot
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 08/19/2013 01:48 AM
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A basketball game at the Department of Juvenile Justice’s Avon Park Youth Academy took a violent turn after the losing team didn't pay up on the Ramen Noodle bet; the loss sparked a detention wide riot.
According to the report that CFNews13 obtained, it all started when two groups of boys at the Department of Juvenile Justice’s Avon Park Youth Academy began fighting around 8:30 p.m. after a basketball game in which the losing team had to give the winning team three Cup O’Noodle packages, the sheriff’s office said.
According to the report, one team was made up of boys from St. Petersburg and the other was from Orlando.
A 911 call from the facility describing the incident and ensuing riot is scheduled to be released Monday.
“They had bet three packets of ramen noodles on game. The Orlando team won, the St. Pete team didn’t pay up so that’s where the original 10 started fighting,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Other teens on the sidelines joined the fight and a riot eventually started.
During the riot, at least 18 of the 20 buildings were destroyed leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of damage, the sheriff's office said.
Officials said the boys took a staff radio and all of the staff golf carts.
Staff at the facility called 911 and requested assistance from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Judd said none were equipped with the force needed to stop the destruction.
“Staff by rule is not allowed to carry restraint devices. They’re not allowed to carry any equipment, they’re not allowed to carry pepper spray. The only thing they can do is take them to the ground.” Judd said.
The streets of the facility were still littered with clothes and trash Sunday morning. There were several windows smashed and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
A fire was set in an office where files are kept. And the sheriff believes the medical center was torn apart in search for drugs.
When PCSO units arrived, they established a perimeter. They were assisted by officers from several other agencies. Approximately 150 law enforcement officers were there.
The mother of one of the juveniles said the young men aren’t the only ones to blame.
“Where did they get the material to start the fire? Why weren’t they watched?” said parent, Jill Elkington.
There are 138 juveniles housed at the detention facility.
Sixty four juveniles were taken to the PCSO South County Jail in Frostproof in state custody.
The remaining 73 boys were secured at the Avon Park Youth Academy.
During the riot, none of the juveniles escaped from the secured compound.
According to the report that CFNews13 obtained, it all started when two groups of boys at the Department of Juvenile Justice’s Avon Park Youth Academy began fighting around 8:30 p.m. after a basketball game in which the losing team had to give the winning team three Cup O’Noodle packages, the sheriff’s office said.According to the report, one team was made up of boys from St. Petersburg and the other was from Orlando.
A 911 call from the facility describing the incident and ensuing riot is scheduled to be released Monday.“They had bet three packets of ramen noodles on game. The Orlando team won, the St. Pete team didn’t pay up so that’s where the original 10 started fighting,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Other teens on the sidelines joined the fight and a riot eventually started.
During the riot, at least 18 of the 20 buildings were destroyed leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of damage, the sheriff's office said.
Officials said the boys took a staff radio and all of the staff golf carts.
Staff at the facility called 911 and requested assistance from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Judd said none were equipped with the force needed to stop the destruction.
“Staff by rule is not allowed to carry restraint devices. They’re not allowed to carry any equipment, they’re not allowed to carry pepper spray. The only thing they can do is take them to the ground.” Judd said.
The streets of the facility were still littered with clothes and trash Sunday morning. There were several windows smashed and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
A fire was set in an office where files are kept. And the sheriff believes the medical center was torn apart in search for drugs.
When PCSO units arrived, they established a perimeter. They were assisted by officers from several other agencies. Approximately 150 law enforcement officers were there.
The mother of one of the juveniles said the young men aren’t the only ones to blame.
“Where did they get the material to start the fire? Why weren’t they watched?” said parent, Jill Elkington.
There are 138 juveniles housed at the detention facility.
Sixty four juveniles were taken to the PCSO South County Jail in Frostproof in state custody.
The remaining 73 boys were secured at the Avon Park Youth Academy.
During the riot, none of the juveniles escaped from the secured compound.
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