By NewsCow staff

August 5, 2007 - 4:53:30 pm

Inmates at the Kay County Jail in Newkirk reportedly set fires, destroyed property and cut power to parts of the jail during a disturbance Saturday night, according to news reports.

Sharon Rowen, a reporter with the Ponca City News, was at the scene and said banging and the sound of glass breaking could be heard coming from inside the jail. Other inmates held signs up in the windows that read “help.”

Close to 30 inmates were transported from the jail to other jail facilities in Osage County, Grant County and Ponca City, according to a report at www.poncacity.com. Captain Scott Pemberton of the Kay County Sheriff’s Department said two pods were torn down. Fires were also set in the jail and smoke could be smelled in the area.

Oklahoma State Department of Health Jail Inspector Don Garrison said he had spoken with Sheriff Van Hoesen about the situation and indicated a jail inspector may attend the commissioner’s meeting Monday morning.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The Kay County Jail inmate count was reported today to be at 129, 21 over the legal limit. Members of the Newkirk police, Osage County Sheriff’s Department deputies, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers, and Ponca City police personnel responded to the jail.

http://www.newscow.net/story.php?StoryID=832