Prosecutors Raise Additional Charges After December Riots Inside Platte County Detention Center | News
PLATTE COUNTY, MO (KCTV) – Eleven men are facing charges following a riot inside the Platte County Detention Center that lasted more than five hours last December.
Prosecutors filed charges against several suspects this month. According to prosecutors, additional charges could be imposed against more suspects.
About 25 detained men took part in the riot. Some are described in court documents as “passive participants”. Prosecutors say others destroyed prison property and refused to return to their cells.
“It’s a very dangerous thing, not just for the guards but for the other inmates,” Platte County District Attorney Eric Zahnd said. “It’s something we take very, very seriously.”
According to court records, Bruce Brandenburg was the first inmate to begin barricading doors with furniture during the day.
“The prisoners are not happy because they cannot afford e-cigarettes,” said Zahnd. “As a result, some of them decided to cause a prison riot.”
On December 20, prosecutors said, several men were detained with barricades and flooded bathrooms by breaking fire sprinklers. They used wet tissues to cover the observation window and a camera.
“It took two SWAT teams to get to the scene,” Zahnd said.
Platte and Clay County SWAT teams used small plastic balls filled with OC powder, also known as pepper spray, to end the riots.
“We’ll make sure, to the extent possible, that doesn’t happen again,” Zahnd said. “One of the ways we do that is to make sure that we hold the people responsible.”
Some suspects were charged with damaging property in prison, which is a felony, and rioting, which is a misdemeanor. Many of the men accused of refusing to disperse have pleaded guilty to their roles.
List of fees paid:
- Bruce Brandenburg: Accused of causing damage to property Jail/imprison {Felony E RSMo: 221.353}, riot {Misdemeanor A RSMo: 574,050}
- Christopher L. Mejia: Accused of causing damage to property jailed/imprisoned {Felony E RSMo: 221.353}, Rioting {Misdemeanor A RSMo: 574,050}
- Zachary Mace: Accused of causing damage to property Jail/imprison {Felony E RSMo: 221.353}, Rioting {Misdemeanor A RSMo: 574,050}
- Joshua Ray Vasquez: Accused of causing damage to property jailed/imprisoned {Felony E RSMo: 221.353}, Rioting {Misdemeanor A RSMo: 574,050}
- Harvey E. Prewett: Accused of refusing to disperse {Sin C RSMo: 574.060}
- Richard W. Dedrick: Accused of refusing to disperse {Crime C RSMo: 574.060}
- Mason L. Harvey: Accused of refusing to disperse {Sin C RSMo: 574.060}
- Josef Thomaz Cunningham: Accused of refusing to disperse {Crime C RSMo: 574,060}
- Elijah Thomas Mayhew: Accused of refusing to disperse {Sin C RSMo: 574.060}
- Nathan James Martin: Accused of refusing to disperse {Crime C RSMo: 574.060}
- James Mitchell Keller: Accused of refusing to disperse {Sin C RSMo: 574.060}
