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By Staff Reporter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A disturbance at the Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center escalated into a riot on Saturday afternoon, resulting in four inmates being taken to a nearby hospital.
The incident began around 4:15 p.m. on March 28, when authorities at the detention center, located at 3440 NE 39th Avenue, sought assistance after a juvenile detainee threatened self-harm. According to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD), when staff opened a pod door to address the situation, several youths seized the opportunity to escape into adjacent pods. This sparked a riot that caused extensive property damage valued at several thousand dollars. The chaos included shattered windows, discharged fire extinguishers, ripped water fountains, and destroyed furniture.
Radio scanner reports revealed that one juvenile experienced a seizure, while another sustained a cut. In total, four juveniles were transported to Shands Hospital; fortunately, none of the injuries were deemed life-threatening.
The incident remains under active investigation.