Three people were hospitalized, more were injured and eight young people were arrested after a disturbance at a Maryland juvenile treatment center that the state has previously singled out for having a "negative culture," authorities say.
Police say they responded to the Victor Cullen Center in Frederick County about 11:30 a.m. Sunday after a group of teen inmates assaulted staff members and destroyed property.
More than one juvenile was thought to be leading a so-called disturbance inside the Frederick County facility, police said.
Police said officers surrounded the building to create a perimeter and a deputy trained as a negotiator spoke to the young people via a radio.
Seven juveniles surrendered to police and one was taken into custody without incident, police said.
Maryland State Police say 29 inmates are housed at the facility.
Three staff members were assaulted by juveniles and taken to the hospital for treatment. Others were injured, police said, but refused treatment.
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Police say they had no physical confrontations with the young people. All of the juveniles at the facility have been accounted for and no one escaped from the facility, police said.
Local police remain on the scene and Maryland State Police are set to conduct a criminal investigation. Police say charges are pending.
No information about the juveniles or the injured as been released. It's unclear how long the disturbance lasted.
In a report published by the Maryland Attorney General in March, the Victor Cullen Center was singled out for having a negative culture and has faced several complaints of verbal and physical abuse of inmates by the staff.
The facility houses males between the ages of 15 and 18 for treatment programs for mental health issues and substance abuse, according to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. The treatment lasts from six to nine months.
The facility received a harsh assessment in a 2016 report prepared by Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit tasked with overseeing youth facilities across the state, News4 reported.
"Issues with safety, security and supervision of the youth remained of great concern," the report said.
