Several employees at Phoenix-area prison fall ill after cell search

PHOENIX – Authorities were investigating at a Phoenix-area prison Monday after several employees became ill following a cell search.

“At this point we don’t know the cause of it,” Bill Lamoreaux, Arizona Department of Corrections spokesman, told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “That’s going to be under investigation.”

Lamoreaux said a corrections officer got sick about an hour after he searched a cell at the Lewis Prison in Buckeye.

“He started to experience disorientation and lightheadedness and actually vomited several times,” Lamoreaux said.

About 15 minutes later, two other staff members experienced similar symptoms, Lamoreaux said.

Crews from the Buckeye Valley Fire District responded to the prison to treat the patients and clear the cell.

The three ill workers were taking to the hospital for evaluation. The were released Monday night.

“It appears to be isolated to just that area and those three staff,” Lamoreaux said. “So thankfully no inmates are other employees are experiencing those symptoms.”

The inmate assigned to the cell was temporarily relocated while the cell was being cleared, Lamoreaux said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report.

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