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Defective Tear Gas Canister Detonates at State Penitentiary
At approximately 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, there was an accidental discharge of a chemical agent canister in an isolated stairwell area at Oregon State Penitentiary.
The canister was attached to the vest of a member of the department's Tactical Emergency Response Team (TERT). The detonation caused the vest to catch on fire. It was quickly removed from the staff member and extinguished with fire extinguishers. The staff member was not injured.
The penitentiary's visiting facility and a housing unit were evacuated. No injuries were sustained by visitors, staff, or inmates.
Although the incident is under investigation, it appears to have been caused by defective equipment (the pin is still in the canister). The penitentiary's security manager is contacting the manufacturer regarding the incident.
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