Monday September 24, 2012 a female guard at the Arkansas Valley prison located in Crowley, Colorado near Ordway was killed and another female guard was injured in the kitchen area during the early morning breakfast for inmates.  Sgt. Mary K. Ricard was killed and died at the prison. Sgt. Lori Gann was transferred to Pueblo’s Parkview Hospital with very serious injuries. She remains in critical condition.

Miguel Alonso Contreras-Perez, the suspected perpetrator in this incident has been transferred to the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City in light of the allegations. In 2002, he kidnapped a 14-year old girl from a bus stop and subsequently sexually assaulted her in Colorado Springs. In 2004, a judge sentenced the Army deserter to an indeterminate prison sentence.

Due to security concerns, all programs, professional and family visits are canceled until September 30, 2012.  San Carlos Correctional, La Vista Correctional, Limon Correctional and Fremont Correctional facilities are also on Alert Status.

Arkansas Valley, AVCF, houses nearly one thousand Level III security inmates.  There has been tension recently at the facility.  Reports from current inmates suggest at least three inmates may have been “shanked” in AVCF.  A “shank” is a homemade weapon such as a sharpened toothbrush or a prisoner-made knife like weapon usually made of metal.   An inmate at Four Mile Correctional Facility in Canon City was shot in the knee last month.   This is still under investigation.

AVCF has six units for their prisoners.  These units hold sex offenders, various criminal offenders in medium and maximum security and an incentive unit for inmates having earned the privilege.   Certain units are known for their gang affiliations and AVCF inmates in all units are subjected to gang activity taxing understaffed prison personnel.     

Overall, the Department of Corrections inmate to inmate assaults, inmate to staff assaults and fighting incidents are down from a month ago.  But, the inmate unrest at Arkansas Valley has been escalating in the last few months. Some speculate it is because of the maximum security prisoners being transferred to AVCF.    

Our prayers go out to Sgt. Ricard and Sgt Gann, their families but also to our clients that reside at Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility.   We hope all occupants are safe and that Arkansas Valley, Ordway and Crowley Colorado communities find peace during this tragic time of loss.  We appreciate their contributions and efforts to protect our inmates in their facilities.