Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center Inmates stage riot 

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

According to visitors at the Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center in Eagle Pass, Texas, an inmate riot broke out at the local county jail on Monday, August 8, 2016, during the afternoon which led to a fight with Detention Center Guards attempting to subdue the inmates.  All Maverick County Sheriff’s Deputies on duty were called in to assist the Detention Center Guards to repel and subdue the inmate riot.

According to Maverick County Chief Deputy Roberto De Leon, four inmates who were on their recreation at the local detention center and refused to return to their cells upon completion of their recreation hour and caused the riot on a temporary basis.  Detention Center Guards and Deputies attempted to subdue the insubordinate inmates, leading to a fight or scuffle with Guards and Deputies.  Two of the four inmates resisted and scuffled with the detention center guards and Deputies, leading to criminal charges filed against them for inciting the riot and resisting detention.

De Leon reported that no inmate or detention center guard or deputy were seriously injured nor transported to the local hospital for treatment as a result of the riot scuffle.

Visitors who were visiting family members at the Tom Bowles Detention Center on August 8th reported that they were not allowed to leave the jail visitation area or rooms because there was an inmate fight or riot with the detention guards.  They were told to remain in the jail visitation area or rooms for their own safety.  One visitor informed the Eagle Pass Business Journal that he was stuck in the jail visitation area or room for up to three hours while the inmate riot was brought under control by detention center guards and Maverick County Sheriff’s Deputies. 

 What is known is that the incident occurred during the mid to late afternoon on August 8th.

The Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center houses U.S. Marshal’s Service female prisoners awaiting trial and sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas.  It is unknown if any federal female prisoners were involved or injured in the August 8th incident.

The August 8th inmate fight or riot demonstrates the high risks of detaining inmates at any detention center.