Minor injuries to SC staff taken hostage at Kirkland prison

Two inmates took two S.C. prison workers hostage over the weekend at a maximum security state prison outside Columbia, but the incident ended almost seven hours later with the hostages freed.

The situation at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, a maximum security facility off Broad River Road, “was resolved with very minimum injuries to our staff around 5 p.m.,” said prison spokeswoman Stephanie Givens.

Givens said she was not authorized to release any more information about the incident, including whether staff members taken hostage were guards, or whether force was used to free the hostages.

Typically, when a hostage situation develops, all other inmates are locked in their cells or holding areas. A SWAT team in helmets and body armor stands ready to move in with various kinds of force, often including tear gas. If possible, officials try first to negotiate an end to the situation.

SLED is investigating.