DA Investigating After Inmates Break Out Of Cells At Oklahoma County Jail

The Oklahoma County District Attorney is investigating Sunday’s chaotic incident at the jail.

The DA’s office has been sent all surviving footage from the cell breakout on the twelfth floor.

Read Related Story: 1 Injured After Inmates Escape Cells At Oklahoma County Jail

“I think all of us were shocked, surprised. I don't know the particulars, but I do know we have a lot of members that work inside the jail and it's just a dangerous place to work,” Oklahoma County Sheriff’s FOP President Lt. Larry Grant said.

However, that shock didn't last long Sunday.

The twelfth floor houses the most dangerous or uncooperative inmates, according to the sheriff.

Several employees say inmates at the jail open doors and break out of their cells constantly.

“The conditions are just poor. Poor from the standpoint that the jail needs to be totally overhauled,” Grant said.

Grant says his members at the jail are understaffed and underpaid.

Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office PIO Mark Opgrande says there have been hundreds of dangerous or noteworthy incidents at the jail this year, including 163 assaults on staff and 314 uses of force.

“The biggest issue of course that everybody faces county wide is a funding issue. There is no dedicated funding source for the jail,” Opgrande said.

During Sunday’s chaos, one detention officer said he had to run out of the pod as the inmates charged at him.

“He's doing good. He's a seasoned officer but thank god it was him because he wasn't a rookie,” Grant said.

After scaring off the officer Sunday, the inmates allegedly ripping down the ceiling and cameras, even fighting each other.

It took close to an hour for the TACT team to get things back under control.

One inmate was taken to the hospital.