Pubdate: Sun, 16 May 2004 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Paul Cowan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) DRUG SEARCH LIKELY SET OFF INMATES A riot by gang members at the Edmonton Remand Centre was sparked by the discovery of drugs and weapons Wednesday night, the Sun has learned. Sun sources say members of a gang known as the Crazy Dragons attacked five fellow inmates after guards uncovered three stashes of drugs in their unit. "No one knows for sure what made those guys mad but it doesn't take much imagination to realize that it was something to do with the search," said Dan MacLennan, president of the union which represents the guards at the Remand Centre, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. "Maybe these guys were just upset about losing their stashes or maybe they thought someone had ratted them out to boost the value of their own supply." Four inmates were taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital with injuries resulting from the riot shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday in a fourth-floor unit housing gang members. They were all treated and returned to the remand. It took the centre's tactical team over an hour to restore order, after inmates also started several small fires. Sources say the search had nothing to do with a tipoff and that the unit was searched after it was realized that a bolt had gone missing from a recreation area. Guards feared that the bolt could be fashioned into a homemade weapon. They also noticed that some of the smoke detectors had been tinkered with and when they were unscrewed, three packets of white powder and two homemade shivs were found. The powder is being analysed but is believed to be cocaine. Solicitor General spokesman Peter Tadman confirmed drugs had been found but said further details would have to come from city cops now investigating the disturbance. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom