Inmates take over jail

UPDATE: The standoff at the courthouse ended at 4:00 on Friday afternoon. Check back Tuesday for full details on the story.
About 15 inmates were still holed up in the Fort Frances Jail with an unconfirmed number of correctional officers by press time Friday.
No injuries have been reported.
Police officers, armed with rifles and wearing bullet-proof vests, continued to surround the jail and were communicating with the inmates, two of whom are facing murder charges.
There was also word a Tactical Response Unit (TRU) team from southern Ontario was expected to arrive on the scene at any time.
The stand-off stemmed from an incident that occurred around 9 p.m. Thursday when correctional officers had difficulty controlling the inmates.
“What happened last night was inmates at the Fort Frances Jail refused to follow orders from staff,” noted Julia Noonan, the media relations officer from Corrections Canada.
It is not known if the inmates have made any demands.
A local negotiator was called to the facility around 10 p.m., as was the ministry’s Institutional Crisis Intervention Team.
Unconfirmed reports said a female staff member was released last night in exchange for cigarettes, and food also has been passed into the jail as negotiations continued.
“At this point, the ministry and the OPP are continuing to communicate with the inmates to try to alleviate the situation safely,” said Noonan.
Police have cordoned off a two-block area around the jail, including the 300 block of Church Street and Nelson Street.
Inmates had tried to contact the local media but the phone lines to the jail have since been disconnected.
The standoff caused several businesses to close this morning, and events to be shifted to other locations. The Teddy Bear Picnic was moved to the Townshend Theatre while the Knox United Church pie sale was held at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
The Fort Frances Clinic and Clinic Dispensary also were closed, with all appointments cancelled. But patients with prescriptions could have them filled at Pharmasave.
The Civic Centre and Fort Frances Courthouse also were shut down, with any scheduled court proceedings held at the Ministry of Natural Resources building on Scott Street instead.
Also closed were Gillons’ Insurance, Holmlund Financial, the Land Assessment Office, Lakeland Personnel, and the Fort Frances Dental Centre, where patients were contacted to re-schedule appointments.
But the fish fry at St. John’s Anglican Church was scheduled to go ahead there.
Police said the streets will remain closed until the situation is resolved.