BOWDEN - The medium security unit at Bowden Institution is under lockdown while staff members conduct an "exceptional" search.
Prison officials said the lockdown, along with suspension of inmate visits until the search has been completed, was put in place inside the unit, which has an inmate capacity of 470, at about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 5. The prison's minimum security site, which has an inmate capacity of 130, was not affected.
Mike Butler, assistant warden of management services at the institution, said the decision for the lockdown was due to "some of the happenings" inside the unit but declined to offer additional details, including whether any inmates are being targeted with the lockdown and "exceptional" search. Butler added he also could not release any information on whether charges have been laid or whether the current action has been handled or passed on to the RCMP.
Innisfail RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk said on Aug. 8 his office had not been contacted in connection to the lockdown.
"We will say there (were) a couple of things that happened. Basically our main goal is to make sure the safe security of the institution is maintained and then we invoke the search," said Butler, adding he could not give information if anyone at the institution, staff or inmates, were in danger. "Basically I cannot give you those details but like I said we take the safety and security of the institution very seriously and take action as we deem appropriate."
As for how long the lockdown and suspension of visits will continue, Butler said institution officials do not know when those measures would be lifted.
"We don't know how long it is going to take. Obviously the hot weather is a factor. There's all sorts of factors that come into play. As far as when we are going to complete these kinds of things it is all up in the air," he said.
"If something is found or if there is any more (information) we will do another release," he said.
