RIKERS ISLAND — Nearly 70 inmates at Rikers Island were sprayed with a chemical agent for not abiding by a newly imposed 9 p.m. curfew Monday night, according to the Department of Correction.
The jail implemented the curfew, which is two hours earlier than the prior one, on Aug. 4 in an attempt to reduce violence at the troubled institution, the Daily News reported.
Two housing units at the George R. Vierno Center in Rikers were not complying with the lock in on Monday, so corrections officers used a chemical agent similar to pepper spray to take control of the situation, the DOC said.
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The Vierno Center holds inmates who require the highest levels of security, according to the DOC.
There were no injuries to inmates or staff, although 68 inmates were exposed to and treated for the chemical.
It was not clear what the chemical was or when the situation was brought under control.
The facility was operating smoothly as of Tuesday morning, according to the DOC.
